Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 components of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

A

Adaptive, social releasers, critical period, monotropy + internal working model

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2
Q

Why do attachments form according to Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

A

Because it promotes the infant’s survival (this would be very important in our evolutionary past)

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3
Q

What are social releasers?

A

Behaviours or characteristics that elicit caregiving and lead to an attachment

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4
Q

Give an example of behavioural social releasers.

A

Crying

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5
Q

Give an example of physical social releasers?

A

Button nose

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6
Q

What is the critical period according to Bowlby?

A

3-6 months

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7
Q

What happens if children don’t form an attachment in the critical period according to Bowlby?

A

They develop abnormally

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8
Q

What is monotropy?

A

The idea that an infant forms one very strong emotional attachment with their primary caregiver

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9
Q

What is the internal working model?

A

A mental model of the world which enables infants to predict and understand relationships

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10
Q

How does the IWM impact infants in the short term?

A

It gives the infant insight into the caregiver’s behaviour

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11
Q

How does the IWM impact infants in the long term?

A

It acts as a template for romantic and platonic relationships

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12
Q

What is the continuity hypothesis?

A

It suggests that infants with secure attachments in their childhood continue to be socially + emotionally competent in adulthood, and those who are insecurely attached grow up to be socially and emotionally abnormal

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13
Q

What are the 4 AO3 points of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

A

1) Support for adaptive nature
2) Criticisms of critical period
3) Support for IWM
4) Criticisms of monotropy

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14
Q

Why do human infants form attachments between the ages of 3-6 months and not at birth?

A

When human infants begin crawling (around 6 months) attachment is vital to prevent harm

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15
Q

Why do monkey infants form attachments very quickly?

A

They cling to mothers to survive

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16
Q

What has the critical period been renamed?

A

The sensitive period

17
Q

Who criticised Bowlby’s theory of a critical period?

A

Rutter

18
Q

What did Rutter find that disproved Bowlby’s concept of a critical period?

A

Although the chance of developing an attachment after the critical period is decreased, it is not impossible

19
Q

What did Rutter suggest the sensitive period was?

A

0-2.5 years

20
Q

Which study supports the continuity hypothesis?

A

The Minnesota parent-child study

21
Q

What did the Minnesota parent-child study find?

A

Continuity between early childhood attachment and later social/emotional behaviour

22
Q

In the Minnesota parent-child study, what did securely attached infants grow up to be?

A

Highest rated for social competence, less isolated, more popular + more empathetic

23
Q

Whose research disproves the concept of monotropy?

A

Schaffer and Emerson

24
Q

How does Schaffer and Emerson’s research disprove monotropy?

A

They found that within one month of forming the first attachment, 29% of infants had a further attachment, and this rose to 78% within 6 months