explanations of attachment

Question 1

bowlbys theory

Answer 1

accordingto john bowlby:
attachment is :
innate/biological
evolutionary approach
important for survial
an infant who is not attached is less well protected 
-attachment provides survival adavantage

Question 2

monotropy

Answer 2

-infants form one special relationship(monotropy)-more important than other relationships

the primary care giver(pcg)-linked to sensitivity shown by the caregiver.helps aid survival as the infant has one main carerwho can protect them

infants use caregivers as a ‘safbase’for them to explore the world and return to them when threatened

Question 3

law of continuity (monotropy)

law of accumulated separation

Answer 3

law of continuity : the more predictable a child’s care , the better the quality of attachment

law of accumulated separation :effetcs of every separation the mother adds up there should ideally be no seperation

Question 4

social releasers

Answer 4

born with social releasers (crying ,screaming ) etc which elicit caregiving

innate ‘cute’ behaviours-purpose is to activate the adult attachment system

facilitate a two-way relationship between infant and caregiver

Question 5

critical period

Answer 5

up to 2 years ‘all or nothing ‘ - if no attachment is formed during this time it peobably never will

sensitivity hypotheisi-infants attach to those who are most sensitive to them and respond to their social releasers

Question 6

internal working model

Answer 6

Attachment is important for emotional.cognitive and social development in the long term

• type of attachment they experience as infant will provide a ‘template’ for future relationships

A loving relationship with caregiver = expect all relationships to be like this and you bring these qualities to a relationship

Question 7

criticisms of the theory (ao3)

Answer 7

shaffer and emerson :

• critical of monotropy
• infants can have up to 20 different attachments
• most babies did attach to one person first
• significant minority appeared to for multiple attachment at the same time

Question 8

criticisms of the theory (ao3)

Answer 8

lorenz and harlows studies are based on animals

means we must be cautious when generalising the results to humans

this is because we cannot be sure that the same results would happen with human subjects being more complex

-reduces the external validity of these studies and also the overall validity of the theory

Question 9

support for study(ao3)

Answer 9

harlows study

• monkey spent 22 hours a day with the cloth mother
• sensitivity and security of the caregiver is most imporant factor

Question 10

criticisims of the theory (ao3)

Answer 10

• altrnative explanations
• learning theory states that attachment is based on reinforcement (cupboard lover)

tempermamnet hypothesis : some children are born more frienddly and therefore form secure more attachments