Explanations Of Attachment: Bowlby's Theory Flashcards
What does the term ‘Monotropic’ indicate in attachment theory?
Indicates one particular attachment is different from all others and of central importance to a child’s development
‘Mono’ means ‘one’ and ‘tropic’ means ‘leaning towards’.
What is a ‘Critical period’ in attachment theory?
Time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all
Lorenz and Harlow noted that attachment in birds and monkeys had critical periods.
What is the definition of bowlby’s theory?
Suggests attachment is innate or instinct, young animals and humans stay safe by staying close to their caregivers
What is the main idea of Monotropy in Bowlby’s theory?
Children attach to one particular caregiver. It’s an attachment thats different and more important
More time babies spend with primary attachment figure, the better
What are the two laws involved in monotropy?
Law of continuity and law of accumulated separation
What does the Law of continuity state?
The more constant and predictable the care is, the better quality attachment.
What is the Law of accumulated separation?
The effects of every separation add up and the best amount is 0.
What are ‘social releasers’ in Bowlby’s theory?
Innate ‘cute’ behaviors that encourage attention and interactions from adults.
Reciprocal process: mother and baby programmed to attach
What is the critical period for forming attachments according to Bowlby?
A critical period of 6 months until 2 years.
If an attachment isnt formed by this point, it will be difficult to do so later on
What is the ‘Internal working model’ in attachment theory?
Mental representations of relationship with primary caregiver that affects our future relationships like parenthood
How does a child’s first relationship affect their future relationships?
A child who has had a loving relationship will expect the same from other relationships.
- Poor treatment tends to form further poor future relations expecting such treatment
What is a strength of bowlby’s theory regarding social releasers?
Evidenced as Brazelton et al watched babies display social releases for adult attention and when they were ignored, they became distressed and some curled up and didnt move
What’s a strength of bowlbys theory regarding internal working model?
Evidence for the model: patterns of attachment passed generationally, Baily et al studied moms to their 1 year olds and measured mothers attachment to their own primary caregiver and to their babies
Mothers with poor attachments to their mothers had poor attachment to their babies
What limitation does Schaffer and Emerson’s findings present to
monotropy?
Monotropy lacks validity ignoring schaffer and emersons findings of multiple attachments. 1st attachments are stronger not necessarily different
- Other attachments within family provide same qualitites
- Anxiety and sociability can also effect social behaviour of babies and adults
What’s another limitation of bowlbys theory regarding the two laws?
Law of continuity and accumulated separation suggests that working moms may negatively impact their child’s emotional development.
Feminist Burman explains this is a way to blame mothers for anything going wrong in their childs future
- also a way to make moms feel as they cant return to work
