Explanations: Bowlby

• Limitation - Validity of monotropy

  although first attachments do appear to have a particularly strong influence on late behaviour this may simply mean that it is stronger not different in quality from other attachments
• Strength - Support for social releasers:

  Brazelton et al - Babies became upset when attachment figure ignored social releasers they showed distress but eventually lay curled up, motionless.
• Strength - Support for internal working model:

  Bailey et al - Quality of attachment is passed on through generations

  99 mums with poor attachment to own parents were more likely to have 1 year olds who were poorly attached
• Limitation - Feminist concerns:

  Burman - Bowlby's views imply that women shouldn't work outside the home

  Counterpoint - Bowlby gave the mothers credit and the theory had real world applications