Bowlby's theory

Cards (27)

  • What type of explanation for attachment did Bowlby propose?
    An evolutionary explanation
  • What does it mean to propose an evolutionary explanation for attachment?
    Attachment was like an innate system that gives a survival advantage
  • What is Bowlby's theory of attachment?
    Monotropic
  • Why is Bowlby's theory monotropic?
    Places emphasis on one particular caregiver - which is more important and different than others
  • Does the caregiver have to a biological mother?
    No
  • Bowlby believed the more time spent with the primary attachment figure the better
  • What two laws did Bowlby propose?
    Law of continuity
    Law of accumulated separation
  • What is the law of continuity?
    The more constant and predictable a child's care, the better quality of their attachment
  • What is the law of accumulated separation?
    The effects of every separation from the mother add up
  • What are social releasers?
    Innate 'cute' behaviours
  • What are examples of social releasers?
    Smiling, cooing and gripping
  • What is smiling, cooing and gripping examples of?
    Social releasers
  • What is the purpose of social releasers?
    To activate adult social interaction - making the adult attach to the baby
  • What is the critical period proposed by Bowlby?
    6 months
  • What did Bowlby view the critical period as instead?
    A sensitive period
  • What is the sensitive period proposed by Bowlby?
    6 months - 2 years
  • What is the consequence of not forming an attachment in the sensitive period?
    Child will find it harder to do so later
  • If a child does not form an attachment during the sensitive period, does this mean it's impossible to do so later?
    No; only harder
  • What model did Bowlby propose?
    Internal working model
  • What is the internal working model?
    A schema of their relationship with their primary attachment figure that serves as a model for future relationships
  • What expectation will a child form if their first experience of a relationship is of a loving relationship?
    All relationships are loving and reliable
  • What expectation will a child form if their first experience of a relationship is of a poor relationship?
    All relationships are poor and expects bad treatment
  • What will the internal working model affect a child's later ability to do?
    Parent
  • Why will the internal working model affect a child's later ability to parent?
    People base their parenting on their own experiences
  • Strength: Bowlby's theory
    What? Support for social releasers
    Who? Brazelton et al. - babies became distressed when social releasers ignored
    Why? Important in development
  • Strength: Bowlby's theory
    What? Support for internal working model
    Who? Bailey et al. - mothers with poor attachment to their primary attachment figures more likely to have poorly attached babies
    Why? Mothers' ability to form attachment to their babies influenced by internal working model
  • Limitation: Bowlby's theory
    What? Monotropy lacks validity
    Who? Schaffer and Emerson = first attachment stronger, not different
    Why? No unique quality to primary attachment