bowlby's theory of attachement

Question 1

what did Bowlby reject and why ?

Answer 1

• the learning theory as an explanation for attachment
  –> because ‘ if this were true an infant of a year or two would be willing to feed from anyone which is often not the case’

Question 2

what work did Bowlby look at instead ?

Answer 2

• at the work of Lorenz and Harlow for ideas

Question 3

what did Bowlby propose instead ?

Answer 3

• an evolutionary explanation for attachment

Question 4

Bowlby’s theory of attachment is an evolutionary theory of attachment ( explain why this is )

Answer 4

• attachement is an innate system
  –> gives a survival damage
  –> imprinting and attachment evolved to make sure infant stay close to their caregivers and this protects them from hazards

Question 5

what are the elements to the theory of Bowlby’s ?

Answer 5

• monotropy
• social releasers
• critical period
• internal working model

Question 6

define monotropy

Answer 6

• a term is sometimes used to describe Bowlby’s theory
• the mono means ‘one’ and indicates one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to the child’s development

Question 7

what is meant by monotropy ?

Answer 7

• Bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic
  –> placed emphasis on attachment to 1 particular caregiver
  –> ‘mother’
  –> the attachment is different and more important
  –> the more time spent with the primary care-giver the better

Question 8

what are the 2 principles Bowlby put forward ?

Answer 8

• the law of continuity stated that more constant and predictable a child’s care , the better the quality of attachment
• the law of accumulated separation stated that the effects of every separation from the mother add up ‘and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’

Question 9

what did Bowlby suggest babies are born with ?

Answer 9

a set of innate cute behaviours both physical and behavioural
- such as smiling , cooing and gripping

Question 10

what is the term referred as for the behaviours ?

Answer 10

• called social releasers and encourage attention from adults

Question 11

what is the purpose of social releasers ?

Answer 11

• to activate the adult attachement system
  –> e.g. make an adult feel love towards the baby

Question 12

what did Bowbly recognise attachement as ?

Answer 12

an reciprocal process

Question 13

what do both the baby and mother have ?

Answer 13

• the innate predisposition to become attached and social releasers trigger that response in caregivers

Question 14

what does the interplay between ‘mother’ and ‘infant’ form ?

Answer 14

• gradually builds the relationship between caregiver and infant within the early weeks of life

Question 15

what did Bowlby proposed about the period of attachment ?

Answer 15

• proposed there is a critical period around 2 years when the infant attachment system is active

Question 16

define critical period

Answer 16

• refers to the time within which an attachement must form if it is to form at all
• Lorenz and Harlow noted that attachment in birds and monkeys had critical periods
• Bowlby extended the idea to humans , proposing that human infants have a sensitive period after which it will be much more difficult to form an attachment

Question 17

what did Bowlby viewed the critical period more of as and why ?

Answer 17

• a sensitive period
  –> child is maximally sensitive at the age of 2

Question 18

what happens if a child doesn’t form an attachment within this time ?

Answer 18

• a child will find it much harder to form one later