Bowlby's Theory of Attachment

Monotropy

attachment to one primary caregiver is the most important in an infant's development

Adaptive/innate

attachment behaviours are adaptive and innate

critical period

if a child does not form an attachment before the critical period (2.5 years) attachment will not occur

IWM/Continuity

later relationships are likely to be a continuation of early attachment styles and this is modelled in mental schemas

Social releasers

innate infant behaviours (like crying, smiling, and clinging) that naturally elicit caregiving responses from adults

Evidence for

Lorenz - critical period and innate
Hazer and Shaven

Evidence against

Schaffer and Emmerson - multiple attachments

Evidence against monotropy

Lamb 1982

Gender biased

ignores role of father and places blame on mother