explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory

Question 1

explain social releasers?

Answer 1

• babies have innate and cute behaviours eg. gripping, BIG EYES that encourage attention from adults
• purpose is to activate the adult attachment system as babies are programmed to attach for survival
• both caregiver and baby have the disposition to become attached
• social releasers trigger the response from caregivers

Question 2

explain the sensitive period?

Answer 2

-formally known as the critical period once believed maximum was 2, but attachments can be formed after 2 it becomes increasingly harder
-first few weeks there is an interplay between infant and caregiver attachment systems
-

Question 3

explain Monotropy?

Answer 3

• infants are programmed to attach to whoever responds to their releasing stimuli the best.
• mono meaning one, means that this attachment is made to their primary caregiver, who is a safe base for exploring the world

Question 4

explain the internal working model?

Answer 4

• infants use the relationship with their primary caregiver as a template for all current relationships and form expectations of what to expect in future relationships.
• • affects child’s ability to be a parent themselves as they base parenting on their own experiences

Question 5

explain the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 5

• the view that there is a link between early emotional experiences and later relationships
• eg. a securely attached infant will continue to remain socially and emotionally competent.

Question 6

evaluate mixed evidence for Monotropy?

Answer 6

WEAKNESS
-Bowlby believes babies form one attachment to P caregiver and only after can they form multiple.
- other research found that a significant minority could form multiple attachments @ the same time as specific
+unclear if first attachment is more special than others formed, as Bowlby said

Question 7

Evaluate social releasers?

Answer 7

STRENGTH

• Brazelton et el observed mothers and babies during their interactions
• reported interactional synchrony
• then asked Pattachment figures to ignore babies signals
• babies initially showed distress then some curled up into a ball and lay motionless
• supports social releasers and how they elicit comfort

Question 8

evaluate support for internal working models?

Answer 8

STRENGTH

• Bailey et al assessed 99 mothers w/ 1 yr olds on quality of attachment with their own mothers using interview
• then baby’s attachment to mothers through observation
• mothers who reported poor attachment with own mothers were more likely to have the same with their kids

Question 9

name the stages in Monotropic theory?

Answer 9

1. Social releasers
2. Sensitive period
3. Monotropy
4. Internal working model
5. Continuity hypothesis
   - seriously, sensitive, men ,irritate, my calmness