Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory

Question 1

describe bowlby’s (1988) monotropic theory

Answer 1

bowlby rejected learning theory as an explanation for attachment
instead, bowlby looked at the work of lorenz and harlow and proposed an evolutionary explanation, that attachment was an innate system that gives survival advantage
attachment evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe by ensuring they stay close to adult caregivers

Question 2

describe monotropy

Answer 2

bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic beccause he placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver
the child’s attachment to this one caregiver is different and more important than others
the more time a baby spent with this primary attachment figure, the better

Question 3

what two principles did bowlby put forward

Answer 3

the law of continuity which stated that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality of attachment
the law of accumulated separation which stated that the effects of every separation from the mother add up

Question 4

describe social releasers

Answer 4

bowlby suggested that babies are born with a set of innate behaviours that encourage attention from adults, called ‘social releasers’, making an adult attach to the baby
recognised attachment as a reciprocal process, both baby and mother and ‘hard-wired’ to become attached
the interplay between baby and adult attachment systems gradually builds the relationship

Question 5

describe the critical period

Answer 5

a period around six months when the infant attachment system is active
viewed as a sensitive period
if an attachment is not formed in this time, a child will find it much harder to form one later

Question 6

describe the internal working model

Answer 6

bowlby proposed that a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure
a child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will form an expectation that all relationships are as such
however a child who experiences the opposite will form further poor relationships where they expect such treatment
IWM affects the child’s later ability to be a parent themselves

Question 7

how does the concept of monotropy lack validity (LIMITATION)

Answer 7

schaffer and emerson found that a significant minority of babies formed multiple attachments at the same time
also, although the first attachment does appear to have a strong influence on later behaviour, this may simply mean it is stronger not different in quality from the child’s other attachments
therefore, bowlby may be incorrect in that there is a unique quality and importance to the child’s primary attachment

Question 8

what is the supporting evidence for the role of social releasers (STRENGTH)

Answer 8

brazelton et al. observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers
the researchers instructed the primary attachment figures to ignore the babies’ social releasers, babies became increasingly distressed
therefore, social releasers are important in emotional development and attachment

Question 9

what is the support for the internal working model (STRENGTH)

Answer 9

bailey et al. assessed attachment relationships in mothers and babies
the researchers measured the mothers’ attachment to their own primary attachment figures and assessed the attachment quality of their babies
found that mothers with poor attachment to their own PCG were more likely to have poorly attached babies
therefore, bowlby’s idea that the ability to form attachment to babies is influenced by IWM is supported

Question 10

what is a counterpoint for the role of the internal working model (LIMITATION)

Answer 10

genetic differences in anxiety and sociability affect social behaviour in both babies and adults, these could impact parenting ability
therefore, bowlby may have overstated the importance of the IWM in social behaviour and parenting