Bowlbys Theory Of Attachment Flashcards
Why is it an evolutionary theory?
It states that attachment is crucial for survival
What is a critical period/when is it?
A biologically determined period of time during which certain characteristics can be developed. For attachments it is 3-6 months; bowlby suggested it should not be possible after this time for attachments to form
Why is it a monotropic theory?
What are the elements of this (what does it lead to)
Bowlby suggested that you form many attachments, but one main one. Attachment is determined by sensitivity; whoever is most responsive, cooperative and accessible.
that person becomes your primary attachment figure.
With this person you develop a secure base.
What are social releasers?
A social releaser is a behaviour/characteristic which elicits caregiving and helps to form an attachment, i.e. Smiling.
They are important during the critical period to ensure attachment occurs between parent and infant.
What is the internal working model?
Children will use experiences of relationships to develop a model about what future relationships will be like.
What is a strength of bowlbys theory of attachment?
There is research which supports the idea of a hierarchal model. Bowlby suggested that secondary attachments are very important for social development, and research on father-infant attachments by Grossman and Grossman supports this. They found that fathers play a key role as secondary attachment for social development : support’s Bowlbys theory
What is a limitation of bowlbys theory of attachment (sensitive)
Bowlby said attachments must form in the critical period of 3-6 months and after this, it wouldn’t be possible. Critics agree that this is the best window for attachments to form and when children are maximally receptive to the formation of certain characteristics or behaviour, but it is not impossible for attachment to form outside this window. (Ruter et al.) Therefore, the term sensitive period is better than critical period.
What is a limitation of bowlby’s theory of attachment? (Alternative)
Kagan developed the Temperament Hypothesis, which states that attachment is a result of infant’s innate emotional personality, not the sensitivity of caregivers. If an infant has an easy temperament, they more strongly attached they will be because they are easy to get along with. If an infant has a difficult temperament, the more insecurely attached they will be. This is supported by research done by Belsky and Rovine: they found that 1-3 day old infants who were temperamentally difficult were more likely to develop insecure attachments
