Which of the following is a major criticism of attachment theory?

• A. It is primarily focused on adult romantic relationships rather than child-caregiver bonds.
• B. It suggests that attachment has no impact on later psychological adjustment.
• C. It provides no explanation for the development of emotional bonds between infants and caregivers.
• D. It overemphasizes the role of early caregiver relationships and may neglect cultural and social influences on child development.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core focus of attachment theory, which primarily examines the emotional bonds between infants and their primary caregivers, emphasizing how these early relationships influence later development.
2. Step 2: Review common criticisms of attachment theory, noting that it is often critiqued for placing too much emphasis on early caregiver relationships while potentially overlooking other important factors.
3. Step 3: Recognize that one major criticism is that attachment theory may neglect the broader cultural and social contexts that also shape child development and emotional bonds.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the provided answer choices by comparing them to the known criticisms of attachment theory, identifying which option aligns with the idea of overemphasizing early caregiver relationships and underrepresenting cultural/social influences.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct criticism is the one stating that attachment theory overemphasizes early caregiver relationships and may neglect cultural and social influences on child development.