PSYCHOLOGY - attachment

what is monotropy

Monotropy is Bowlby's concept that indicates a child forms one primary attachment figure, which is central to their development. This attachment is viewed as being more significant than any other relationships the child may develop.

what are Bowlby’s two laws for attachment quality

Bowlby's two laws for attachment quality are the Law of Continuity, which states that the more consistent and predictable the caregiver's behaviour, the better the attachment security.

the Law of Accumulated Experiences, which suggests that early experiences with caregivers accumulate over time to influence attachment security.

how did Bowlby define social releasers

Bowlby defined social releasers as specific innate behaviours exhibited by infants, such as crying, cooing, and smiling, that stimulate caregiving responses from adults, thus fostering attachment formation.

how did Bowlby outline the critical period

Bowlby outlined the critical period as a specific window of time, typically from birth to around two years of age, during which the formation of attachments is most crucial. If a child does not form an attachment within this period, it may have lasting negative effects on their emotional and social development.

divided into - critical period (first 6 months) and sensitive period (up to 2 years)

what is the working internal model

The working internal model is a mental representation that an individual forms based on their relationships with primary caregivers. It influences expectations and interactions in future relationships.

summary of the evaluation of Bowlby’s theory

• monotropy lacks validity

• research support for social releasers

• research support for internal working model - countered but alternative explanations

• feminist concerns

strengths of Bowlby’s research (2)

P - evidence to support the role of social releasers

E- Brazelton(1975) found that babies trigger responses form adults using social releasers. when this response was removed the infants became distressed and unsettled, crying and eventually lay motionless.

E - so are proved to be used and an innate part of infant behaviour

P - evidence to support the internal working model

E - Bailey et al (2007) found that mothers who reported poor attachment styles were more likely to have babies with similar attachment issues.

E - This suggests that the internal working model is passed down through generations. - COUNTERPOINT

Limitations of Bowlby’s research (3)

P - monotropy lacks validity due to a lack of empirical support.

E - Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found that a small minority of infants formed multiple attachments and this contradicts the notion of a sole primary attachment figure.

E - This indicates that Bowlby's emphasis on monotropy may oversimplify attachment processes.

P - alternative explanations other than the internal working model (COUNTERPOINT)

E - Kornienko et al (2016) highlighted the role of cultural and social factors in attachment formation.

E - This suggests that attachment cannot be solely explained by Bowlby’s internal working model, as these factors also contribute significantly.

P - feminist concerns

E - Burman (1944) criticized Bowlby's theory for reinforcing traditional gender roles, suggesting it may pathologize women for being primary caregivers.

E - this is damaging as it puts the mother solely in the position of blame for any attachment issues in their child.

what are the three types of attachment found in Ainsworth’s research

secure

insecure-avoidant

insecure-resistant

what is secure attachment

explore happily but regularly return to the caregiver (proximity seeking behaviour)

shows moderate stranger anxiety and separation distress

require and accept comfort in reunions

60 - 75% of British babies

what is insecure avoidant attachment

• about 20 - 25% of British babies

• show little or no distress when the caregiver leaves and ignores them upon return, indicating a lack of proximity seeking behaviour.

• They do not seek comfort or contact from the caregiver and generally avoid both the caregiver and strangers.

what is insecure - resistant attachment?

• 3% of British babies

• show intense distress when separated from the caregiver and significant fear of strangers.

• They display clingy behaviour

• resist comfort when reunited, indicating ambivalence towards the caregiver.

what are the behaviours used to judge attachment?

• proximity seeking

• exploration and secure-based play

• stranger anxiety

• separation anxiety

• response to reunion

what is proximity seeking

babies with a healthy attachment will stay close to their caregiver

what is exploration and secure based behaviour

A form of behaviour where infants feel safe to explore their environment while using their caregiver as a secure base for reassurance.

what is stranger anxiety

A typical response in infants where they exhibit distress when approached by strangers, indicating a strong attachment to their primary caregiver.

what is separation anxiety

A common emotional response in infants characterized by distress when separated from their primary caregiver, reflecting a strong emotional bond.

what would a healthy response to reunion be?

It typically involves joyful greeting behaviours, such as smiling, reaching out, or seeking proximity to their caregiver, demonstrating relief and comfort upon reuniting.