Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory Flashcards
Which theory was rejected by John Bowlby as an explanation for attachment?
Bowlby rejected learning theory as an explanation for attachment because, as he said, ‘were it true, an infant of a year or two should take readily to whomever feeds him and this is clearly not the case’.
Whose work did Bowlby turn to in order to establish his theory of attachment?
Bowlby looked at the work of Lorenz and Harlow for ideas. From this, he proposed an evolutionary explanation.
What was Bowlby’s evolutionary explanation of attachment?
Bowlby proposed that attachment was an innate system that gave a survival advantage. Imprinting and attachment evolved because they ensure that young animals stay close to their caregivers and this protects them from hazards. Millions of years ago this might have been wild animals, today it is traffic and electricity.
Bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic. Explain why?
Bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic because he placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver, and he believed that the child’s attachment to this one caregiver is different and more important than others.
How can the term ‘monotropic’ be defined?
The term ‘mono’ means ‘one’ and indicates that one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to the child’s development.
Bowlby placed emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver. What did Bowlby call this caregiver?
Bowlby called this person the ‘mother’ but was clear that it need not be the biological mother. He believed that the more time a baby spent with this mother figure (or primary attachment figure) the better.
Bowlby proposed that it was important for a child to spend as much time as possible with their mother-figure. Which two principles did he put forward to clarify this?
-The law of continuity
-The law of accumulated
separation
What is stated in the law of continuity?
The law of continuity stated that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
What is stated in the law of accumulated separation?
The law of accumulated separation stated that the effects of every separation from the mother add up ‘and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’.
Within his theory, Bowlby spoke about social releasers. What are social releasers?
Bowlby suggested that babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling, cooing and dripping. These behaviours encourage attention from adults. Bowlby called these social releasers because their purpose is to activate the adult attachment system (e.g. make an adult feel love towards the baby).
According to Bowlby, is attachment a one-way or a reciprocal process?
Bowlby recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process. Both mother and baby have an innate predisposition to become attached and social releasers trigger that response in caregivers. The interplay between infant and adult attachment systems gradually builds the relationship between infant and caregiver, beginning in the early weeks of life.
What was the critical period proposed by Bowlby?
Bowlby proposed that there is a critical period around two years when the infant attachment system is active. Bowlby viewed this as more of a sensitive period. A child is maximally sensitive at the age of two bit, if an attachment is not formed in this time, a child will find it much harder to form one later.
Within his theory, Bowlby spoke about an internal working model. What is an internal working model?
Bowlby proposed that a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver. This is called an internal working model because it serves as a model for what relationships are like.
What is the primary impact of an internal working model?
Internal working models affect the nature of a child’s future relationships.
How do internal working models impact a child’s future relationships?
A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to form an expectation that all relationships are as loving and reliable, and they will bring these qualities to future relationships. However, a child whose first relationship involves poor treatment will tend to form further poor relationships in which they expect such treatment from others or treat others in that way.
