Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory Flashcards
Describe Bowlby’s theory of attachment
he proposed an evolutionary explanation- attachment is an innate system that gives survival advantage
Why is Bowlby’s theory described as monotropic?
he placed emphasis on one special attachment between infant and caregiver (primary attachment figure)
Describe what is meant by Bowlby’s principle of The law of continuity
the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better qualtiy attachment
Describe what is meant by Bowlby’s principle of The Law of accumulated separation
the effects of every separation with the mother add up and ‘the safest dose is therfore a zero dose’
What did Bowlby mean by ‘social releasers’?
a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours that activate adult social interaction, and make an adult attach to the baby
Give examples of social releasers
A baby cooing, smiling or gripping
What is meant by critical/sensitive period?
Critical- the time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all
Sensitive- if attachment is not formed within this window of opportunity, the child may not be able to form one later
What were the critical and sensitive period that Bowlby suggested?
Critical- up to 6 months
Sensitive- up to 2yrs
What is meant by Bowlby’s proposition of an internal working model?
a mental representation of an individual’s relationship with their primary caregiver (like a template)
According to Bowlby’s IWM, what sort of relationship will a child with a loving relationship with PAF seek?
loving, reliable relationships
How does the IWM affect children’s ability to parent later on in life?
People tend to base their parenting behaviour on their experiences of being parented
This explains why children from functional families tend to have similar families themselves
Describe the supporting evidence for this theory (+)
Brazelton et al observed babies’ trigger interaction with adults using social releasers
Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their baby’s social releasers
babies became increasingly distress
therefore this supports the role of social releasers in emotional development
Describe contrasting evidence found (-)
Schaffer and Emerson found that although some babies did attach to one person at first, other babies formed multiple attachments at first
therefore this theory lacks validity
Are there any opposing theories? (-)
Yes- the learning theory places emphasis on a cognitive approach to attachment, and suggests the importance of an attachment figure being a provider of food, therfore naming them as a PAF.
this reduced the validity of this theory
How can this theory be applied to the real world? (+)
It can be applied to parenting classes to educate parents on ideas such as social releasers
Ensures care-givers are made aware of the critical/sensitive period in which an attachment must form
therefore this theory has moral and economic benefits
