Bowlbys theory Flashcards
(12 cards)
What did Bowlby argue about attachment?
Evolutionary explanation
Attachment was an innate system that gives a survival advantage
Evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe by ensuring they stay close to adult caregivers
What does monotropic mean?
One particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to a childs development
What does the law of continuity state?
The more constant and predictable a Childs care, the better the quality of their attachment
What does the law of accumulated separation state?
Effect of every separation adds up
So least amount of separation the safer.
What is monotropy in Bowlbys theory?
Infants form one very special, intense attachment
With primary caregiver
Most important attachment formed by child and is different and strong than other attachments formed by child.
More time child spend with this primary giver the better.
What does bowlby suggest social releasers are?
Babies are born with set of innate cute behaviours
Smilling, cooing, gripping
Encourage attention from adults
Purpose is to activate adult social interaction
Make adult attach to baby
Attachment - reciprocal process
Mother and baby - hardwired to become attached.
What is the critical period according to bolwby?
Around 6 months
Infant attachment system is active.
Sensitive period
Child is maximally sensitive at six months and extends up to age of 2
If attachment isnt form in this time, child will find it much harder to form one later
What is the internal working model?
A mental schema for what relationships should be like
Based on experience of Childs monotropic attachment
All childs future relationships will be based on this
What is an evaluation for bowlbys theory?
Validity of monotropy challenged
Lacks validity
Shaffer and Emerson
Almost all babies did attach to one person at first
Significant minority formed multiple attachments at the same time
First attachment - strong influence on later behaviour - stronger not different quality.
Meaning may be incorrect that there is unique quality and importance to the childs primary attachment
What is an evaluation for bowlbys theory?
Support for social releasers
Brazelton et al
Observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers.
Instructed babies primary attachment figures to ignore their babies social releasers
Babies became increasingly distressed and some eventually curled up and lay emotionless
Role of social releasers in emotional development suggesting that they are important in the process of attachment development
What is an evaluation for bowlbys theory?
Support for internal working model
Predicts patterns of attachment will be passed from one generation to the next.
Bailey et al
99 mothers and 1 year old babies
Measure mothers attachment to their own primary attachment figures
Assed attachment quality of babies
Found mothers with poor attachment to their own primary attachment figures were more likely to have poorly attached babies
Supporting idea that mothers ability to form attachments to their own babies is influenced by their internal working model
What is an evaluation for bowlbys theory?
Counterpoint for support for internal working model
Probably other important influences on social development
Some psychologists
Genetic differences in anxiety and sociability affect social behaviour in both babies and adults
Differences could also impact on their parenting ability.
Meaning he may have overstated the importance of the internal working model in social behaviour and parenting at the expense of other factors
