Bowlby's theory

Question 1

main assumptions

Answer 1

• hypothesised that both infants+ mothers have evolved a biological need to stay in contact with each other.
• att behaviors (eg proximity seeking) are instinctive and will be activated by any conditions that seem to threaten the achievement of proximity, such as separation, conversing into an ADAPTIVE advantage for survival by creating a protective buffer
• SOCIAL RELEASERS are used by infants to elicit and promote caregiver interaction eg smiling/cooing
• att need to be formed in CRTITICAL PERIOD(0-3)
• MONOTROPY; special emotional bond with primary att fig which helps to develop the IWM (a schematic template for future att) which allows them to control, manipulate and predict env
• resulting the affects of later development aka CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS.

Question 2

strength- Hazan and shaver

Answer 2

• self report questionnaires called the ‘love quiz’ to assess IWM
• found pos correlation between early att types and later adult rship
• supports bowlby’s IWM idea
• harlow: monkeys struggled to parent their own children because they lacked monotropic bond and damaged IWw

Question 3

nature vs nurture

Answer 3

-bowbly suggests att are innate mechanisms to aid survival = NATURE
-his idea of IWM suggest adult rship are determined by an innate mechanism shaped by our NURTURING early rship experiences.
=interaction of nature AND nurture are vital when considering the effects of early att and IWM
=psychologists should consider both bio and environmental factors when examining att

Question 4

mixed evidence for monotropy

Answer 4

SCHAFFER + EMERSON

• refute the idea that infants must form 1 special att to their caregiver which supersedes all other and provides foundation for subsequent multiple att
• did recognise some infants do follow this pattern but others can form multiple att w diff caregivers simultaneously
• goes against bowlby’s notion of ‘monotrpy’ which is central part of his theory of att

Question 5

alternative explanation of att

Answer 5

KAGAN- TEMPERAMENT HYPTOHESIS
-child’s genetically inherited personality traits have a role in forming att
-infants have differing temperaments due to their bio makeup
= some more sociable and easy than others who’re anxious and difficult infants
-Bowbly ignored the role of temperament, instead focusing on early childhood exp and quality of att
- this was an oversight since personality diffs in the child can influence whether they become in/securely att

Question 6

deterministic vs free will

reductionism vs holism

Answer 6

• theory is deterministic and pessimistic
• implied that humans are born without free will and choice
• suggests that we are purely the subject to our biology and evolution
• fails to consider taking a holistic approach which involves considering free will and higher cognitive thinking