Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory

Question 1

What is the evolutionary theory of attachment?

Answer 1

The tendency to form attachments is INNATE - this is seen more predominately in mothers an infants

Question 2

What is monotropy?

Answer 2

Bowlby proposed that infants have one special emotional bond, normally the biological mother, but not always.

Question 3

What is the critical period?

Answer 3

Bowlby believed that if the monotropic attachment hadn’t occurred by the age of two then a child will have difficulty forming attachments later on in life

Question 4

What are social releasers?

Answer 4

They are innate mechanisms so natural characteristics or behaviours of babies such as crying, smiling, clinging.

Question 5

What does Cr.I.I.M.P.S stand for?

Answer 5

Critical period
Innate programming
Internal working model
Monotropy
Proximity
Social releasers

Question 6

What did Bowlby believe if you failed to make a secure attachment?

Answer 6

That you would struggle to form attachments in the future

Question 7

What is the continuity theory?

Answer 7

That your attachment formed as an infant will affect your attachments in the future

Question 8

What does internal working model mean?

Answer 8

Children form a mental representation of their relationship

Question 9

What is the law of continuity?

Answer 9

The more constant a child’s care, the better the quality of attachment