Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory Flashcards
According to Bowlby, why do attachments form?
Increase chance of survival for individual and species. Parent will look after infant if attached.
How do attachments form?
Innate drive to attach during critical period (3-6 months). Attachments more likely if parents are more sensitive/loving (Ainsworth).
Define critical period.
Biologically determined period of time where certain characteristics develop. Very difficult to form these characteristics out of time frame.
What are social releasers?
Innate social behaviours or characteristics that elicit caregiving. This leads to attachment.
What is monotropy?
Especially significant attachment with an infant’s primary care giver that is important in emotional development.
What is the consequence of attachment?
Develop an internal working model of the primary attachment.
What are the short- and long- term consequences of the internal working model?
Short-term: insight into caregiver’s behaviour, allows for closer relationship.
Long-term: acts as a template for all future relationships.
What is the continuity hypothesis?
The idea that the internal working model formed dictates all future relationships. For example, weak attachments in infancy will lead to more social/emotional difficulties.
(AO3) How has the critical period theory been adapted?
Now ‘sensitive period’. Rutter found that attachments will form outside of this period, but it is more difficult. Window where infants are more receptive, but not clear cut as Bowlby suggested.
Could use Guiton’s study about chickens mating with rubber gloves again?
(AO3) What research evidence is there for continuity hypothesis and therefore the internal working model?
Hazan and Shaver’s ‘love quiz’. Positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences (e.g. secure = longer happy love experiences).
Or Bowlby’s 44 Juvenile thieves study.
(AO3) How do we know that attachment is adaptive as Bowlby suggested?
3-6 month develop attachment very late compared to other mammals. Ancestors may have been earlier (monkeys cling on immediately after birth). Age of attachment linked to features of a specie’s life - humans don’t need to cling on instantly.
(AO3) Why is Bowlby’s theory of monotropy culturally relative?
Izjendoorn and Kroonenberg found that monotropy is less common in collectivist cultures. Multiple attachment figures in raising the infant. Do not develop socially abnormal. Monotropy is not universal as Bowlby thought - may not be as innate as expected?
