Bowlbys theory

Question 1

what is Bowlby’s theory of Monotropy (1958.1969)

Answer 1

a child’s attachment to one caregiver is different and more important than others
- believed that the more time a baby spent with this primary attachment figure the better

Question 2

what is the law of continuity

Answer 2

the more constant and predictable a child’s care the better the quality of their attachment

Question 3

what is the law of accumulated separation

Answer 3

• the effects of every separation from the mother adds up

Question 4

social releasers

Answer 4

• babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling cooing and grippin that encourage attention from adults
• social releasers activate adult social interaction and make an adult attach to the baby
• recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process

Question 5

the critical period

Answer 5

• proposed there is a sensitive period around 6 months when the infants attachment system is active
• if attachment is not formed by 2 a child will find it harder to form one later

Question 6

internal working model

Answer 6

• a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure, serves as a model for what relationships are like
• a child’s who’s first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will form an expectation that all relationships are as loving and reliable and will bring those qualities to future relationships
• internal working model affects a child later ability to be a parent themselves

Question 7

Limitation of bowlby’s theory

Answer 7

1. validity of monotropy
   - Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that most babies did attach to one person at first but a minority (27%) formed multiple attachments at the same time
   - first attachment does appear to have a strong influence on later behaviour but other attachment to family members provide the same qualities of support
   - so attachment is not different

Question 8

strength of bowlby theory

Answer 8

1. support from the internal working model
   - internal mental working model predicts the patterns of attachment will be passed from one generation to the next
   - Bailey et al (2007) assessed attachment relationships in 99 mothers and their 1 year old babies
   - measured the mothers attachment to their own primary attachment figures
   - also assessed the attachment qualities of the babies
   - found that mothers with poor attachment to their own primary attachment figures were more likely to have poorly attached babies
2. support for social releasers
   - Brazelton et al (1975) observed that babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers
   - instructed the babies primary attachment figures to ignore the babies social releasers
   - babies become increasingly distressed and some eventually curled up and lay motionless