A - explanations of attachment: Bowlby's monotropic theory (AO3) Flashcards
What is a strength of Bowlby’s concept of the critical period in the monotropic theory? - Supportive empirical evidence from case studies
===> Genie, feral child, found at 13 after severe neglect and abuse during entire critical period. Despite language and cognitive intervention, she could never form a language which supports consequence of irreversible damage. However, case of Czech twin boys shows contradictory findings. Discovered at 7 after living in basement for 5 and a half years but once in foster home, caught up developmentally with peers. No attachment with mother figure but attachment with each other. Shows may be mediating factors which determine whether lack of attachment in critical period is irreversible or not - Bowlby too deterministic?
What is a limitation of Bowlby’s concept of monotropy (that there’s one key caregiver)? - Contradictory evidence
===> Schaffer and Emerson (1964) found (in naturalistic observation) that whilst babies formed one main attachment first, within one month, 29% had multiple attachments and 78% did within 6 months. Contradicts his theory of monotropy - may be product of time period of the 1950s where mothers were main caregivers so may lack validity today. However, Schaffer’s research has low population validity as all babies were from middle-class Glaswegian families and limits generalisability to other families and cultural backgrounds
What is a strength of Bowlby’s concept of the internal working model (IWM) in the monotropic theory? - Supportive evidence to show IWMs can pass through generations
===> Bailey et al (2007) looked at attachment type of 99 mothers and infants, assessed in strange situation test. Then investigated relationships they had with their own mothers (in interview) and found most women had same type of attachment as their infant and mother. Supports concept that IWM is developed in childhood and carried through to adulthood, then passed to children. Increases validity of Bowlby’s concept of continuity hypothesis
What is a limitation of Bowlby’s monotropic theory? - Socially sensitive
===> Bowlby suggests mother should be primary caregiver and could put pressure on her to stay at home. Also, if mother doesn’t provide sensitive care, baby will experience irreversible damage. Also devalues role of father by suggesting mother is most important and father is secondary figure. Worth noting Bowlby’s theory was devised in 1950s when mothers were mainly key caregivers and Bowlby has acknowledged criticism by suggesting he was attempting to raise importance of role of women in male-dominated 1950s society
