Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
(9 cards)
what is included in Bowlby’s theory?
- Adaptive
- Social Releasers
- Critical Period
- Monotropy
- Internal Working Model
explain adaptive as a part of Bowlby’s theory.
- attachment is an innate system which proves a survival advantage
- ensured that young animals were kept safe by staying close to caregivers
explain critical period as a part of Bowlby’s theory.
- birth to 2 and a half years
- if attachment is not formed during this time they will find it harder to form an attachment later
- at around 6 months, infants attachment system is active
explain monotropy as a part of Bowlby’s theory.
child’s attachment to one particular caregiver
- child’s attachment to one caregiver is very important and different to the others
- more time spent with primary attachment figure the better
- proposed two principles = law of continuity and law of accumulated separation
what is the law of continuity?
the more predictable and constant a child’s care is the better the quality of attachment
what is the law of accumulated separation?
- the effects of every separation from the mother adds up so therefore the safest dose is zero
explain social releasers as a part of Bowlby’s theory.
- babies are born with a set of innate cute behaviours like cooing, smiling and griping (behavioural) as well as body proportions (physical) which encourages attention from adults
- purpose is to activate adult social interaction and make an adult attach to baby
explain internal working model as a part of Bowlby’s theory.
- child forms a mental representation of their relationship with primary attachment figure
what are expectations of the internal working model?
- first relationship was loving = they expect all other relationships to be loving and reliable, and they will bring these qualities into the future relationships
- also affects child’s late ability to parent themselves
- people tend to base their parenting behaviour on their experiences of being parented
