Attatchment

Question 1

What is the human critical period

Answer 1

Two and a half years

Question 2

What are the four key features of Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attatchment

Answer 2

• innate programming
• presence of critical period
• affect on later relationships
• monotropy one bond stronger than others (particularly maternal)

Question 3

What is the evolutionary theory of attatchment

Answer 3

• by Bowlby

- the desire to form attatchments has evolved as it helps the infant concerned survive

Question 4

What is the learning theory

Answer 4

Attatchments are learned through interaction with caregivers who provide warmth, food and comfort (also known as behaviourism)

Question 5

Why can Harlow’s study be justified

Answer 5

The study gave a better understanding of factors which makes social isolation less damaging in order to help children and other primates who have been isolated

Question 6

What happened when Harlow isolated monkeys from birth

Answer 6

• monkeys isolated for 3,6,12 or 24 months became disturbed (rocked, afraid of other monkeys, if they bred they were abusive parents)
• monkeys isolated up to 6 months with gradual reintroduction to other monkeys became normal by age three.

Question 7

Conclusion of Harlow’s monkeys

Answer 7

• attatchment is not exclusively food related, comfort is also important
• challenges learning theory
• instinctive to bond for comfort and protection

Question 8

When did imprinting occur in Lorenz’s study? What is this time called

Answer 8

• 4-25 hours after hatching

- gosling critical period

Question 9

Define imprinting

Answer 9

Innate tendency of an infant to develop a very strong bond with its mother figure within the first few hours of its life

Question 10

What is Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis

Answer 10

• attachment formed as an infant provides the person with an internal working model which affects quality of relationships as an adult