*Explanations Of Attachment: Bowlby's Theory

Question 1

What does the term ‘Monotropic’ indicate in attachment theory?

Answer 1

Indicates one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to a child’s development

‘Mono’ means ‘one’ and ‘tropic’ means ‘leaning towards’.

Question 2

What is a ‘Critical period’ in attachment theory?

Answer 2

Time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all

Lorenz and Harlow noted that attachment in birds and monkeys had critical periods.

Question 3

What is the ‘Internal working model’ in attachment theory?

Answer 3

Mental representations of the world that affect our future relationships

It includes the representation we have of our relationship to our primary attachment figure.

Question 4

What did Bowlby (1988) suggest about learning theory in relation to attachment?

Answer 4

Learning theory can’t be true or most 1-year-olds would be happy in anyone’s company as long as they feed them.

Question 5

According to Bowlby, what is the nature of attachment?

Answer 5

Attachment is innate or instinctual.

Question 6

What is the main idea of Monotropy in Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 6

Children attach to one particular caregiver.

Question 7

What does the Law of continuity state?

Answer 7

The more constant and predictable the care is, the better quality attachment.

Question 8

What is the Law of accumulated separation?

Answer 8

The effects of every separation add up and the best amount is 0.

Question 9

What are ‘social releasers’ in attachment theory?

Answer 9

Innate ‘cute’ behaviors that encourage attention from adults.

Question 10

What is the critical period for forming attachments according to Bowlby?

Answer 10

A critical period of 6 months until 2 years.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: A child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver, known as the _______.

Answer 11

Internal working model.

Question 12

How does a child’s first relationship affect their future relationships?

Answer 12

A child who has had a loving relationship will expect the same from other relationships.

Question 13

What did Brazelton et al (1975) demonstrate regarding social releasers?

Answer 13

Babies display social releasers for adult attention; ignoring them leads to distress.

Question 14

What did Bailey et al (2007) find in their study on attachment?

Answer 14

Patterns of attachment are passed generationally.

Question 15

True or False: Bowlby’s theory suggests that the first attachment is the only important one.

Answer 15

False.

Question 16

What limitation does Schaffer and Emerson’s findings present to Bowlby’s monotropy?

Answer 16

It ignores the existence of multiple attachments.

Question 17

What does the Law of continuity and accumulated separation imply about working mothers?

Answer 17

It suggests that working moms may negatively impact their child’s emotional development.

Question 18

Who criticized Bowlby’s theory for making mothers responsible for their child’s future emotional issues?

Answer 18

Feminist Burman (1994).