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Child Psychology

Bowlby's theory of attachment

  • 5 things to know
  • Papers 2 and 3

Overview

Recall questions on monotropy, the internal working model, the critical period, social releasers, maternal deprivation and the 44 Thieves study.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

What is the critical period in Bowlby's attachment theory, and what happens if attachment does not form during this time?

Key term

What is the internal working model in Bowlby's theory?

Key term

What are social releasers in Bowlby's account?

Evaluation

Give one methodological weakness of the 44 Thieves study.

Key term

What does Bowlby's concept of monotropy propose about infant attachment?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How does the internal working model affect later development?

    Model answer

    It shapes expectations and behaviours in future relationships, as the child uses their early attachment experience as a template for understanding how relationships work.

  2. 2

    Why is an interactionist approach considered more complete than purely nature or nurture explanations of attachment?

    Model answer

    It acknowledges that both biological predispositions and environmental influences work together to shape attachment, rather than one factor acting alone.

  3. 3

    What did Bowlby mean by monotropy?

    Model answer

    That an infant forms one primary attachment which is qualitatively different from and more important than all the others.

  4. 4

    What is the internal working model in Bowlby's theory?

    Model answer

    A mental template of relationships built from the first attachment, which shapes expectations of later relationships including the infant's own parenting.

  5. 5

    What did Bowlby mean by a critical period for attachment?

    Model answer

    That attachment must form within roughly the first two and a half years, and becomes very difficult after about five.

  6. 6

    What are social releasers in Bowlby's account?

    Model answer

    Innate infant behaviours such as crying, smiling and clinging that elicit caregiving from adults.

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