explanations of attachment - Bowlby's theory

Question 1

why did Bowlby reject learning theory

Answer 1

he looked at Lorenz and Harlow for ideas and proposed an evolutionary explanation stating attachment was innate and that it gives us a survival advantage

Question 2

meaning of monotropic

Answer 2

emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver which was different and more important than others

Question 3

what are Bowlby’s two principles

Answer 3

the law of continuity
the law of accumulated separation

Question 4

what is the law of continuity

Answer 4

stated that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality of the attachments

Question 5

what is the law of accumulated separation

Answer 5

states that the effects of every separation from the mother add up and the safest dose is a zero dose

Question 6

ASCMI
A = adaptive behaviours

Answer 6

its an evolutionary
helps aid infants personal survival skills
like Lorenz’s goslings

Question 7

S = social releasers

Answer 7

babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling and cooing
this encourages attention from adults and activates adult social interaction
adult attaches to the baby

Question 8

C = critical period

Answer 8

6 months - 2 years
it is also viewed as a ‘sensitive’ period (up to 5 years)
if an attachment is not formed then it will be much harder to form an attachment later in life

Question 9

M = monotropy

Answer 9

infants form one intense attachment with their mother

Question 10

I = internal working model

Answer 10

the child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure
the relationship serves as a model for what relationships are like
the childs first relationship will affect their ability to form quality relationships in the future

Question 11

how does the internal working model affect the childs ability to be a parent

Answer 11

people base their parenting behaviours on their own experiences of being parented

Question 12

AO3
+P: support for the role of social releasers

Answer 12

Brazetton
babies trigger interactions with adults by using social releasers

Question 13

+P: support for the internal working model

Answer 13

Bailey et al (2007)
assessed attachment relationships in caregivers and previous caregivers
found that mothers with poor attachment to their primary attachment figure were more likely to have a poor attachment with their children

Question 14

-P: the concepet of monotropy lacks validity

Answer 14

Shaffer and Emerson suggest Bowlby may be incorrect
27% of the children they studied formed an attachment to their mother and father at the same time

Question 15

-P: feminist concerns

Answer 15

Burman (1994)
this belief causes mothers to take the blame for anything that goes wrong for their child in the future
excuses women to be restricted just to child rearing and preventing them form returning to work