Attachment Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
An innate and adaptive system of attachment, emphasizing a special bond with one caregiver
Bowlby’s theory suggests that attachment is crucial for development and is similar to imprinting in animals.
What does the continuity hypothesis propose?
There is a correlation between early attachment bonds and later relationship expectations
This hypothesis is supported by studies like Hazan and Shaver’s ‘Love Quiz’ and research by Simpson et al.
What are social releasers in the context of attachment?
Innate cute behaviors and characteristics of babies that help to unlock parenting
These behaviors encourage caregivers to respond and form attachments.
What did Sroufe et al. (2005) find regarding secure attachment?
Those who were more secure had better characteristics later in life
This study highlights the importance of early attachment experiences.
What is the critical period for forming attachments according to Bowlby?
Around two years (30 months)
Bonding during this period is seen as sensitive, but not necessarily crucial for later development.
What did the case of the Czech twins (Koluchova) illustrate?
Healthy relationships can develop despite early abuse and neglect if the critical period is bypassed
This suggests that attachment can still form later in life.
What evidence supports the critical period in attachment?
Animal studies, such as those involving Lorenz’s geese and Harlow’s monkeys
These studies demonstrated the importance of early bonding experiences.
What does ‘monotropy’ refer to in Bowlby’s theory?
The idea that there is one special bond with a primary caregiver
This bond is considered different and more important than other attachments.
What role do fathers play in child development according to Grossman & Grossman (1991)?
Fathers have an important role not just economically, but also in play
This research emphasizes the multifaceted contributions of fathers to child development.
What is the internal working model in attachment theory?
A mental representation of relationships formed from the first bond
This model influences how individuals perceive and engage in later relationships.
True or False: The father’s role in attachment is solely economic.
False
Research shows that fathers also contribute significantly through play and emotional support.
What is one criticism of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
It overestimates the importance of one bond
Critics argue that multiple attachments can also be significant for development.
Fill in the blank: The _______ hypothesis suggests continuity in attachment types across generations.
continuity
This hypothesis indicates that early attachment experiences can influence parenting styles.
What did Belsky & Rovine suggest about attachment?
They explored the influence of characteristics on attachment types
Their work indicates that various factors can affect attachment security.
What are the five explanations for attachment?
Classical conditioning
Negative reinforcement
Operant conditioning
Drive reduction
Attachment is learnt
Dollars and Millar believe attachment is learnt what else do they say?
Children learn to love/ attach to whoever provides them food.
Explain the explanation of operant conditioning in the learning theory
Crying is reinforced because it produces the caregiver to respond ( providing food). This positively reinforces infant behaviours that bring the mother close ans its a reward.
Explain the explanation for learning theory , classical conditioning
The unconditioned stimulus of food provides an unconditioned response ,pleasure, to the infant. The caregiver( the neutral stimulus) is associated with the unconditioned stimulus as they provide the food to the child. Therefore the caregiver then becomes a conditioned stimulus and produces pleasure a conditioned response n the baby even when they haven’t got food.
Explain drive reduction as a an explanation for attachment
Attachment is a secondary drive learned by association of caregiver with hunger satisfaction (primary one)
Explain how negative reinforcement can be an explanation for attachment.
The caregiver is reinforced to go to the child in order to prevent it from crying.
State one evaluation of Dollard and Millers view that attachment is “cupboard love’ and children attach due to food.
Lorenz and Harlow carried out animal studies which showed that attachment does not depend on feeding.
Outline another evaluation point of Dollard and Millard’s view of attachment forming due to food
Schaffer and Emerson carried out human studies which showed that the primary attachment is not always the person who feeds the infant. Sensitive responsiveness to th child’s needs is what matters.
What study did Grossman carry out?
Longitudinal study following 44 families drm infancy to 16 years old. The farther and mothers contribution to the child’s attachment experiences where compared.
What did the grossman study find?
Fathers’ playy sensitivity is a better predictor of the child’s long term attachment that the early infant farther security of attachment.
