Discuss the role of 'social releasers' in forming attachments.

Social releasers are behaviours or actions that elicit caregiving responses from adults, facilitating the formation of attachments.

Bowlby's theory of attachment emphasises the importance of social releasers, such as crying, smiling and clinging, in eliciting caregiving responses from adults. These behaviours are innate and universal, ensuring that infants receive the necessary care and protection from caregivers. The responses of caregivers to these social releasers are crucial in forming secure attachments, as consistent and sensitive responses promote feelings of security and trust in the infant.

The role of social releasers is supported by research, such as the study by Brazelton and colleagues, which found that infants who displayed more social releasers had more secure attachments. Similarly, Ainsworth's Strange Situation study demonstrated that infants who received consistent and sensitive responses to their social releasers were more likely to form secure attachments.

However, it is important to note that the role of social releasers may vary depending on cultural and individual differences. For example, some cultures may emphasise independence and discourage clingy behaviours, which may affect the use of social releasers. Additionally, individual differences in temperament may influence the frequency and intensity of social releasers displayed by infants.

In conclusion, social releasers play a crucial role in forming attachments, as they facilitate caregiving responses from adults and promote feelings of security and trust in infants. However, the role of social releasers may be influenced by cultural and individual differences.