Explanations Of Attachment (Bowlbys Evolutionary Theory) NATURE - Topic 4 Flashcards
(9 cards)
Why did BOWLBY suggest about attachment ?
attachment is an innate process that serves as an important evolutionary function. Evolution is the change in the inherited characteristics of an organism over time.
How does evolutionary function explain attachment ?
Attachment between infant and caregiver is a prime example of a behaviour pattern that is rooted in biology and evolution. Attachment becomes programmed into himna beings and it’s found to operate similarly in almost all cultures as the purpose is the same regardless of ethnic or cultural differences: to keep the baby close to caregiver for safety and protection.
What is the main principles of BOLWBLY’S theory ?
Infants form one main attachment (monotropy) and that attachment provides an internal working model (template for future relationships) and infants need to attach within a critical period of there may be lasting negative consequences.
What is meant by MONOTROPY?
the idea that a child forms an attachment to one particular caregiver usually the mother. He believed that the more time a baby spent with the primary attachment figure the better. The law of continuity states that the more constant a child’s care the better the quality of their attachment and so according to the law of accumulated separation “ the safest dose is therefore a zero dose”
What is meant by the CRITICAL PERIOD?
there is a critical period from 6months to 2 years where the infants attachment system is active and its argued that if an attachment is not formed within this time it will be very difficult for a child to from an attachment later on.
What is meant by INTERNAL WORKING MODEL?
children form a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver, this is called an internal wording model because it serves as a model for what relationships are like. Poor first relationships will tend to be the cause of further poor relationship in which they will either expect such treatments or will treat others similarly.
What is meant by SOCIAL RELEASERS?
Babies are born with innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling because it encourages attention from adults. Their purpose is to activate the adult attachment system , e.g making the adult feel love towards the the baby.
What is a supporting study for Bowlby’s theory?
Hazen and shaver used the love quiz and found a string relationship between a string relationship between childhood attachment types and adulthood attachment types. More specifically that people who had secure attachments as babies were happy and trusting of their partners. And those with insecure attachments felt jealous and possessive. This suggests that the attachment quality affects future relationships, this is evidence for Bowlbys theory of the internal working model.
What is a opposing study for Bowlby’s theory?
Monotropy is a socially sensitive idea as it had major implications for the lifestyle choices mothers make when their children are young, this is because the idea of monotropy suggests that mothers should stay home and should never be away from their children that puts pressure on the mother and reinforces traditional gender roles.
As well as Schaffer and Emerson found that children are able to form multiple attachments at the same time
