explanations of attachment: bowlbys theory

Question 1

Key ideas on Bowlbys attachment theory?

Answer 1

-attachment has evolved due to survival and reproductive benefits
-innate drive to attach to parents-due to long term benefits
-innate characteristcs of drives= things that we are born with(product of genetics)
-innate drive to attach to parent= is imprinting

Question 2

What does Bowlbys evolution theory consist of?

Answer 2

-innate tendency to form attachment to parent
-tendency is adaptive advantage to survive
-critical period= how infants form attachments

Question 3

ASCMI
part 1

Answer 3

-adaptive= makes us likely to survive-safe,food, warmth
-social releasers= unlock innate tendency for adults to care for them
1.physical= baby face and proportions
2.behavioural= crying,cooing

Question 4

ASCMI
part 2

Answer 4

-crtitical period= up to 2 and a half years
if not formed attachment causes irreversible damage long term
e.g depression, aggressive, delingquency
-monotropy= first attachment is special e.g mother, primary caregiver

Question 5

What are the two laws that are part of monotropy?

Answer 5

-law of continuity= the more consistent a childs care is the better their atatchment
-law of accumaltion= seperation from mother is negative ‘and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’

Question 6

ASCMI
part 3?

Answer 6

internal working model
-special mental schema
-childs future adult RS will be based on primary attachment

Question 7

What are the limitations of Bowlbys theory?

Answer 7

-lack validity
-babies later form multiple attachments
-first attach appears stronger
-but not very different from other attachments
-other attachments from family can also provide well e.g safe base
-incorrect to think theres a unique quality w only first attachment

(counterpoint to internal working model)
-other factors are being disregarded
-e.g anxiety socially in babies and adults
-may impact parenting
-bowlby may have overestimated the importance of internal working model

(feminists perspective)
- the laws of continuity and accumaltion have negative effects on babies emotions if seperated from mum
-mothers may take the blame for things going on with their child
-restricts some mums going to work
(at the time bowlby said this tho, mothers werent as necessary,they even believed fathers could take on the role)

Question 8

what are the strenghts of Bowlbys theory?

Answer 8

(the internal working model)
-bailey et al= assesed attachment in 99 mothers and their 1 yr old
-assesed attachment of the mothers to their own parents
-assesed baby attchment quality
-mothers w poor attachment to parents most likely had poor w babies

(support for social releasers)
-cute baby baby behavior elicts interaction from caregiver
-Brazelton et al= observed babies trigger interactions w adults
-primary attachments figures then instructed to ignore them
-babies became distressed & motionless
-so social realeasers are important in emotional development