Explanation Of Attachment: Bowlby’s Monothropic Theory Flashcards
What is Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
Attachment is adaptive and innate; it is a behavioural system that has evolved due to its survival value.
What is the innate drive to be attached according to Bowlby?
The innate drive to be attached provides long-term benefits, ensuring protection and food.
How does behaviour relate to attachment in Bowlby’s theory?
Behaviour is adaptive if attachment increases survival and reproductive chances.
What does ‘monotropic’ mean in Bowlby’s theory?
Monotropic refers to the high importance placed on a unique relationship with a mother-figure, more important than any other.
Who can be considered a mother figure in Bowlby’s theory?
The mother figure need not be the biological mother; it can be any primary caregiver.
What is the law of continuity in Bowlby’s theory?
The law of continuity states that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
What is the law of accumulated separation?
The law of accumulated separation states that the effect of every separation from the mother adds up, with the safest dose being a zero dose.
What role does the primary caregiver play in Bowlby’s theory?
The primary caregiver acts as a secure base from which a child can explore the world and a safe haven to return to.
What are social releasers?
Social releasers are innate behaviors in babies, such as smiling, cooing, crying, and gripping, that encourage adult attention.
What is the reciprocal process in attachment?
The reciprocal process involves both mother and baby having an innate predisposition to become attached, with social releasers triggering the caregiver response.
What is the critical period for attachment?
The critical period is around 2 years old when the infant attachment system is active, making the child sensitive to forming attachments.
What happens if no attachment is formed during the critical period?
If no attachment is formed during this period, a child will find it very difficult to form one later on.
What is the internal working model?
The internal working model is a blueprint for future relationships developed from the relationship between caregiver and infant.
How does the internal working model affect future relationships?
The internal working model influences expectations of future emotional relationships based on early experiences.
What is the impact of poor treatment in childhood?
A child that has poor treatment will tend to form further poor relationships, expecting such treatment from others or treating others in that way.
How does the internal working model affect parenting?
Parents base their parenting behavior on their own experiences of being parented, influencing the next generation.
What is the belief about functional families?
It is believed that those from functional families go on to have functional families.
What does a secure attachment lead to in a child’s working model?
A secure attachment leads to a child’s working model of feeling loved and accepted.
What does an avoidant attachment lead to in a child’s working model?
An avoidant attachment leads to a child’s working model of feeling unloved and rejected.
What does an angry and resistant attachment lead to in a child’s working model?
An angry and resistant attachment leads to a child’s working model of feeling angry and resistant.
What is a weakness of Bowlby’s concept of monotropy?
The concept lacks validity as the primary attachment figure may just be stronger than other attachments rather than different in quality.
What does the critique of Bowlby’s theory suggest about attachments?
Other family members may develop attachments with the baby that have the same dualities, such as comfort and a secure base.
What is a criticism of Bowlby’s view on the father’s role?
Bowlby underestimated the role of the father, viewing it as primarily economic and unrelated to child upbringing.
How is Bowlby’s theory viewed in contemporary contexts?
It is considered an outdated and sexist view, emphasizing the importance of equal responsibility for childcare.
What evidence supports the role of social releasers in attachment?
Brazelton et al (1975) found that babies showed distress when social releasers were ignored, supporting their importance in attachment development.
What does the internal working model predict?
It predicts that patterns of attachment will be passed from one generation to the next.
What did Bailey et al (2007) find regarding attachment?
They found that mothers with poor attachment to their own parents were more likely to have poorly attached one-year-olds, supporting the internal working model.
What is a counter-argument to Bowlby’s internal working model?
Other influences, such as a baby’s genetically-influenced personality, are important in the development of social behavior and parenting styles.
What does the counter-argument suggest about Bowlby’s theory?
It suggests that Bowlby overemphasized the importance of the internal working model in development.
