Explanation of attachment: Bowlby's theory Flashcards
Continuity hypothesis
The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adults.
Critical period
A biologically determined period of time, during which certain characteristics can develop. Outside of this time windw such development will not be possible.
(Aroung 3 to 6 months)
Internal working model
A mental model of the world which enables indviduals to predict and conteol their enviroment. In this case of attachment the model relates to a person’s expectations about relationships.
Monotropy (monotropic)
The idea that the one relationship that the infant has with his.her primary attachment figure is of special significance in emotional development.
Social releaser
A social behaviour or characteristic that elicits caregiving and leads to attachment.
Issues/Debates
AO1
Free will vs determinism. Bowlby’s theory of attachment is an example of biological determinism as its emphasis on surival on critical periods
AO3
Attachment is adaptive
Strength
P: A strength of Bowlby’s theory is that it explains why human infants form attachments during the critical period rather than when they are first born.
E: Infants become attached during the critical period of 3 to 6 months, at the same time that they begin to crawl. It is therefore vital that infants form and maintain an attachment during this time, so that their caregivers can protect them
E: This supports Bowlby’s claim that attachments are adaptive.
A Sensitive period rather than a critical period
Weakness as its being challenged
Bowly’s claim that attachments can only form within the 3 to 6 month ‘critical’ period has been challenged by Rutter et al’s research.
E: Rutter et al. found that although infants were maximally responsive to attachment formation during critical period, it was still possible for attachments to form outside this narrow window.
E: As a result of this finding, the term ‘sensitive period’ is now preffered as alternative ‘critical period’
There is research support for Bowlby’s concept of monotropy
Prior and Glaser (2006)
P: The multiple attachment model, which claims that all attachment figures are equivalent, appears to contradict Bowlby’s concept of monotropy.
E: However, in a review of research Prior and Glaser (2006) concluded that a hierachical model of attachment, which places emphasis one central person ‘higher’ than others, is more likely than multiple attachments
E: This supports Bowlby’s concept of monotropy and his claim that one special attachment plays a more significant role in emotional development
There is support for the continuity hypothesis
Bowlby’s claim that early attachment affect subsequent relationship is supported by research
E: The Minnesota parent-child study (Sroufe et al.2005) followed p’s from infancy to late adolescene and found continunity between early attachments and later emotional/social behaviour. individuals who were securely attached in infancy were more socially compentent, more popular and more empathetic later in childhood.
E: This Supports Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis, as it shows a clear link between early and later attachments.
What 4 AO3 are you using?
Attachment is adaptive (Strength)
A Sensitive period rather than a critical period (Weakness)
There is research support for Bowlby’s concept of monotropy (Counter-point)
There is support for the continuity hypothesis (Strength)
