Bowlbys Theory Of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
Why did Bowlby reject learning theory as an explanation of attachment?
He said that if it were true an infant aged 1 or 2 should attach to whoever feeds them but this isn’t the case.
Who did Bowlby look at for ideas?
Lorenz and Harlow producing an evolutionary explanation.
What is the concept of Bowlby’s theory?
Attachment is an innate system that gives people a survival advantage - so attachment evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe ensuring they stay close to adult caregivers.
Why is Bowlby’s theory described as monotropic?
He placed emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver - believed this attachment is different and more important (the mother).
What 2 principles did Bowlby put forward to suggest that spending more time with a primary attachment figure is beneficial?
- Law of continuity - the more constant and predictable a child’s care the better quality of attachment.
- Law of accumulated separation - effects of every separation from the mother add up and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose.
What did Bowlby suggest babys are born with?
A set of innate, cute behaviours - smiling, cooing and gripping which encourage adults attention - social releasers.
What did Bowlby recognise attachment was?
A reciprocal process - both mother and baby are hard-wired to become attached.
What does interplay between baby and adult attachment systems build?
The relationship between baby and caregiver beginning in the early weeks of life.
When does the critical period occur according to Bowlby?
6 months when the infant attachment system is active - more a sensitive period - child is maximally sensitive at 6 months and this may extend up to 2 - if no attachment is formed in this time a child will find it harder to form one later.
What did Bowlby propose a child forms?
Mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure - internal working model as it served as a model for what relatioships are like.
What does the internal working model effect?
The child’s later ability to be a parent themselves - people base parenting of their own experiences which explains why children from functional families tend to have similar families themselves.
Evaluation: monotropy lacks validity
- Schaffer and Emerson found a significant minority form multiple attachments at the same time.
Evaluation: evidence to support the role of social releasers
- A psychologist observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers.
- Researchers then instructed primary attachment figures to ignore babies social releasers.
- Babies became increasingly distressed and some eventually curled up laying motionless.
Evaluation: support for the internal working model
- Researchers assessed attachment relationships in 99 mothers and their 1 year old babies.
- Researchers measured the mother’s attachment to their own primary attachment figures.
- Found mothers with poor attachment to their own primary attachment figures were more likely to ave poorly attached babies.
Evaluation: feminist concerns
- Laws of continuity and accumulated separation suggest mothers who work may negatively impact their children’s emotional development.
- Feminists point out this belief sets up mothers to take the blame for anything that goes wrong for the child in through future.
- Gives people an excuse to restrict mothers activities e.g. returning to work.
