Bowlby's Theory
- Created by: emilyisblue
- Created on: 22-04-15 17:29
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- BOWLBY'S THEORY
- Sensitive Period
- Limited Window of Development
- Development of all biological systems takes place during a critical period.
- Bowlby suggested the second quarter of the first year the critical period.
- After this period it become increasingly difficult to form attachments.
- Hodges and Tizard
- Found children who formed no attachments had later difficulty with peers.
- Supports the theory.
- Limited Window of Development
- Monotropy and Hierarchy
- Infants form a number of attachments but are bias towards one.
- Infants have a primary attachment figure and secondary ones that form a hierarchy.
- Often the mother - sensitivity is the key.
- Evaluation
- Tronick and Schaffer and Emerson both show infants can have multiple attachments.
- However they still maintain one primary figure.
- The primary attachment figure was not always the feeder.
- Quality over quantity of care is what forms attachment.
- Unclear weather only one primary attachment figure is necessary for healthy emotional development.
- Tronick and Schaffer and Emerson both show infants can have multiple attachments.
- Secondary attachment figures.
- Important in emotional development - act as a 'safety net'.
- Children bought up without secondary attachment figures tend to lack social skills.
- Infants form a number of attachments but are bias towards one.
- Attachment is Adaptive and Innate
- Believes attachment is a behavioral system that evolved because of its survival and reproductive value.
- Children have and innate drive to become attached to a caregiver as it has long term benefits.
- Benefits such as imprinting - within hours of birth the mother knows the smell of her own infant and only cares for this one.
- Increases survival therefore reproduction.
- Lorenz: His goose research supports the view that imprinting is innate as they imprinted on the first thing they saw.
- Believes attachment is a behavioral system that evolved because of its survival and reproductive value.
- Internal Working Model and Continuity Hypothesis
- Working Model
- The relationship between a primary caregiver and infant provides a foundation of future relationships.
- The 'model' is cluster of concepts such as consistent and inconsistent love.
- Remembers what makes them happy/sad or anxious.
- Hypothesis
- Consistency between early and later relationships.
- Lead to the view there is a link between early emotional attachment and later emotional behavior.
- Minnesota Longitudinal study followed adolescence.
- Individuals classified as secure in infancy were rated highest for social competence.
- Were less isolated, more popular and more empathetic.
- Demonstrated continuity.
- Individuals classified as secure in infancy were rated highest for social competence.
- Working Model
- Care giving is Adaptive
- The drive to provide care giving is also adaptive.
- Infants are born with social releasers.
- Social relearsers include crying,, smiling and 'the baby face'.
- Attachment relies on the interaction of two things.
- 1. Attachment as an innate behavioral system in babies.
- These enhance survival.
- 2. Care giving is the innate response from adults.
- These enhance survival.
- 1. Attachment as an innate behavioral system in babies.
- The drive to provide care giving is also adaptive.
- A Secure Base
- Attachment is important for protection as its a secure base from which a child can explore the world.
- They have a place to return when they feel threatened.
- Attachment fosters independence rather than /de/pendence
- Caregiver Sensitivity
- Harlow's monkeys formed an unresponsive attachment.
- Struggled to form attachment.
- Schaffer and Emmerson
- Strongly attached infants had mothers who responded to their child the most.
- Insecurely attached had unresponsive mothers.
- Carlson found insensitive caring was associated with disorganised attachment
- Harlow's monkeys formed an unresponsive attachment.
- Sensitive Period
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