EXPLANATIONS OF ATTACHMENT: BOWLBY’S THEORY

Question 1

Bowlby

Answer 1

• Rejected learning theory
• Looked at Harlow and lorenz instead.
• proposed an evolutionary exp for attachment.
• Attachment is innate system and evolved to make sure infants stay close to caregiver.

Question 2

Monotropic

Answer 2

• One particular attachment is different from all others and is essential to the child’s development
• Law of continuity - the more constant a child’s care is the Better quality of attacement.
• Law of accumulated response - the effect of even seperation adds up.

Question 3

Primary attachment figure

Answer 3

• The person who has formed the closest bond with a child .
• Usually the biological mother , but other people can fulfil the role

Question 4

Social releasors

Answer 4

• children have innate cute behaviors
• A ’ cute ‘ social behaviour from a baby that prompts a caregiving reaction e.g. smiling , cooing and gripping fingers
• Main purpose is to activate adult attachment system .

Question 5

Critical period

Answer 5

• The time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all
• A child is maximum sensitive at 6 months and extended to the age of 2

Question 6

Internal working model

Answer 6

• Mental representations of the primary attachment relationship are template for future relationships
• E.g poor attachment means poor relationship outcomes

Question 7

What is a strength - Support for social releasors’ ?

Answer 7

• Brazelton et Al observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers
• then instructed primary caregiver to ignore child social releasors.
• Babies became extremely distressed

Question 8

What is a strength - Support for internal model?

Answer 8

• Bailey et Al asessed attachment in 99 mothers and 1 Yr old babies
• Researcher measured attachment to their own primary caregivers
• The mothers with poorly attachmeant to primary garegiver had poorly attached babies

Question 9

Counterargument - Genetic ?

Answer 9

• korneiko argues genetic diff in anxiety and socialbility affect social behaviours in both babies and adults these diff impact parenting ability
• Bowlby overstates importance of iwm

Question 10

What is a strength - emphasizes the importance of the caregivers role?

Answer 10

• highlights the critical role that caregivers play in shaping early attachment relationships,
• this has important implications for parents, caregivers and mental health professionals working with young children,
• as it underscores the importance of providing nurturing and responsive care to infants and young children

Question 11

What is a limitation - places too much emphasis on the mother as the primary caregiver?

Answer 11

• The law of continuity and accumulated separation imply that working mothers may damage their baby development.
• bowlby argued infants have an innate need to form a strong emotional bond with one primary caregiver,
• however this view has been criticized for being too narrow and not taking into account the role of other caregivers or family members in the attachment process

Question 12

What is a limitation - doesn’t count for cultural differences?

Answer 12

• based on research primarily conducted in western cultures, can’t be generalised to other cultures,
• attachment relationships in some are more collectivist while some more individualistic

Question 13

Rutter et al - limitation

Answer 13

• contradicts Bowlby’s idea of a critical period as it shows adoptees can form attachment after their first birthday.
• Can form attachment after critical period.
• Therefore, it is suggested critical period should be called sensitive period as attachments are quicker formed then but can still be formed after this period; just takes longer