Bowlby Monotropic Theory Flashcards
(16 cards)
What type of explanation of attachment did Bowlby propose?
An evolutionary explanation, based on work from animal studies
(ASCMI)
What does the evolutionary explanation of attachment state?
attachment is innate and gives a survival advantage to keep young animals safe by ensuring their stay close to adult caregivers
Why is Bowlby’s theory described as monotropic?
he placed emphasis on the idea that attachment to one particular caregiver is different and is more important than the others
> usually the mother/PAF
What two laws did Bowlby create to emphasis the idea of monotropy and what do they state?
- Law of continuity > That the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality of attachment
- Law of accumulated separation> Every separation from mother adds up the effects
‘safest dose is a zero dose’ Bowlby
What are babies born with according to Bowlby?
social releasers > a set of innate cute behaviours e.g. gripping, cooing smiling
What is the purpose of social releasers?
activate adult social interaction and make adult feel love towards infant > attachment
Around what age is the infant attachment system active?
around 6 months
What age is the sensitive period and what happens if an attachment is not formed within this period?
- 2.5 years
- becomes harder to form an attachment much later if not formed within this time
What is the internal working model (IWM) ?
Mental representations of a child’s relationship with their primary attachment figure, which serves as a template of what future relationships will be like
What would you expect if you had a loving, reliable caregiver?
Expect all relationships to be like this and will bring qualities to future relationships
What would you expect if you had poor treatment from caregiver?
poor relationships, behaviours and expectations
How does the IWM affect a child in the future?
affects child’s later ability to be a parent themselves
What is a limitation of Bowlby’s explanation of attachment?
- issues with validity
- Schaffer & Emerson found that although most babies still attached to one person at first, significant minority formed multiple attachments at the same time
- suggest that although the first attachment appears to have strong influence this may just mean it is stronger rather than different in quality from other attachments
- Bowlby is incorrect about unique quality of PAF
What is a strength of Bowlby’s explanation of attachment?
- research to support
- Brazelton et al > observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers
- researchers instructed babies PAF to ignore babies social releasers
- found that previously responsive babies became increasingly distressed and some eventually curled up & lay motionless
- illustrates role of social releasers in emotional development & suggest they are important in process
What is another strength of Bowlby’s theory of attachment (IWM)?
- Research support
- Bailey et al> measured 99 mothers and their attachment to their own PAF and the attachment quality of their 1 year old babies
- he found that mothers with poor attachments to own PAF were more likely to have poorly attached babies.
- Suggest ability to form attachments to their babies is influenced by the IWM
What is another limitation of Bowlby’s theory of attachment?
- feminist concerns
- Bowlby’s theory might make life more difficult for women.
- The laws of continuity and accumulated separation
suggest that mothers who work may negatively affect their child’s emotional development. - Burman (1994) – this makes it easier to blame women for anything that goes wrong with the child.
- It also gives people an excuse to restrict mothers’
activities for example returning to work - suggests Bowlby’s theory is socially sensitive and might have a negative impact on mothers
