Explanations of attachment: Bowlbys theory Flashcards
What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
Bowlby’s monotropic theory suggests that children form a primary attachment to one caregiver, which is more important than others.
What is the term used by Bowlby to describe the primary caregiver in his attachment theory?
Bowlby referred to the primary caregiver as the ‘mother figure’.
What does the law of continuity state?
The law of continuity states that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
What does the law of accumulated separation state?
The law of accumulated separation states that the effects of every separation from the mother add up, with a zero dose being the safest.
What are social releasers according to Bowlby?
Social releasers are innate behaviors like smiling and cooing that encourage adult attention and activate social interaction.
What is the critical period for attachment according to Bowlby?
The critical period for attachment is around six months, during which the infant attachment system is most active.
True or False: Bowlby believed that attachment is a reciprocal process.
True
What is an internal working model in Bowlby’s theory?
An internal working model is a mental representation of a child’s relationship with their primary attachment figure.
How does a child’s first attachment experience affect future relationships?
A child with a loving relationship will expect all relationships to be loving and reliable, whereas a child with poor treatment will expect poor treatment in future relationships.
Fill in the blank: Bowlby posited that if an attachment is not formed by the age of two, a child will find it much harder to _______.
form one later.
What impact does the internal working model have on parenting behavior?
The internal working model affects a child’s later ability to be a parent, as people tend to base their parenting behavior on their own experiences.
