Expalination Of Attachment: Bowlbys Theory Flashcards
What did Bowlby suggest
He rejected the learning theory as an explaination of attachment an suggested it needed a more complex explanation
What are the 5 aspects to bowlby’s theory
MICES
Monotropy
Internal working model
Critical period
Evolution
Social releasers
What is the evolution part of his theory
He suggested that attachment is an innate, adaptive process that has endured throughout evolution.
For example: the caregiver reproduces and has a baby, and provides for the baby, such as giving them food and shelter. Meaning that reproduction has been successful due to the survival of the baby.
What does monotropy suggest
It’s the idea that there is only one significant primary attachment, being the primary caregiver.
Through the law of accumulated separation: the effects of every time the child separates from the primary caregiver add up
Through the law of continuity: the more consistent the child care is, the better quality of their attachment.
What does the internal working model suggest
It suggests that the infants have a mental representation of their relationship with their caregiver, which creates the template of what their future relationships look like.
For example, if a child grows up with a loving relationship with their primary caregiver, they will form an expectation that all relationships will be loving.
What are social releases
These suggest that the infants have innate “cute” actions such as laughing and crying. These social releases prompt the caregiver to care for them
For example: crying when hungry then the caregiver feeds them.
Whats the critical period
This suggests that a child critical period is 6 months, which is when its the easiest to form an attachment. If the child doesn’t form an attachment within the 12 months, then they wont form one at all. This will cause attachment issues later on in life, during adult hood.
Strength evaluation
P- evidence supporting social releasers
E- psychologist observed babies interactions with adults using social releasers. The researchers then told the primary caregiver to ignore the social releasers from the baby. The babies become distressed, however after a period of time just laid there motionless.
E-shows the role of social releasers in emotional development and how it is importantly to attachment development.
P- support for the internal working model.
E- psychologist studied the attachment between 99 mothers and their 1 year old babies as well the attachment of the same 99 mothers and their primary attachment figure. Results showed that if the mothers had a poor attachment with their primary caregiver then they would have a poor attachment with their children
E- supports bowlbys idea of the primary caregiver attachment is the building block for all future attachments.
P- practical applications
E-the law of continuity states that attachment depends on having continuous care and predictable care. This has lead to many parents opting for a childminder, rather than minding them at nursery because the child mindersdisplayed more affection and communication towards the children.
E-develop improvements in childcare
Limitation evaluation
P- the concept of monotrophy has been challenged.
E- a relationship with the primary caregiver may be stronger in comparison to others and not lack quality. Such as the child being able to form multiple attachments with people that all provide the same quality of comfort.
E-bowlby may have been wrong when suggesting that the primary caregiver provide different qualities.
