Attachment - Explanations: Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory Flashcards
What is evolution?
The process whereby useful features are introduced into a species
How can a feature be termed as useful?
If it helps the animal survive long enough to successfully reproduce
What do animals need to be to survive and reproduce?
Well adapted to their environment
What are useful features said to be?
Adaptive
What does Bowlby believe attachment is?
A behaviour that has evolved because of its survival value
How is attachment learnt according to Bowlby?
It isn’t learnt - it’s innate
How does an attachment give us an adaptive advantage?
The innate tendency makes it more likely that we will survive as attachments provide us with food, comfort, protection and security
What idea did Bowlby adopt?
Idea of a critical period
Who did Bowlby observe?
Children and their families who were separated in the aftermath of WW2
Where were Bowlby’s studies often conducted?
Institutions and hospitals
Word to remember Bowlby’s research
MICIS
MICIS
Monotropy
Internal working model
Critical period
Innate
Social releasers
Monotropy
Infants form one very special and intense attachment with their mother
If the mother isn’t available, who will the baby form a monotropic attachment with?
Another ever-present adult (mother substitute)
Through the monotropic attachment, what will the infant form?
An internal working model
What does an internal working model form?
A template for all future relationships
What will all the child’s future relationships be based on?
Their internal working model
What is carried throughout the infants life?
The style of attachment they have
What must babies do during the critical period?
They must form an attachment with their caregiver during this period
When is the critical period?
Between birth and 2.5 years old
What does Bowlby believe about a child who doesn’t form an attachment during the critical period?
They will be damaged for life - socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically
What are we born with?
The drive to attach
Why do attachments give us an adaptive advantage?
Because an infant has an attachment to a caregiver resulting in them being kept warm, safe and fed
What do social releasers do?
They unlock the innate tendency of adults to care for them
How can social releasers be physical?
Typical baby face features
How can social releasers be behavioural?
Through actions such as crying
How does Lorenz’ research support Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
The attachment process of imprinting is an innate process which has a critical period
Bailey’s method to support the internal working model
Bailey questioned 99 teenage mothers with 1 year old babies and observed their behaviour
What did Bailey find in his research supporting the internal working model?
Mother who reported insecure attachments to their own parents were much more likely to have children whose behaviour implied insecure attachments
How is this theory influential?
It has stimulated a great deal of research and many of Bowlby’s ideas have been linked to a variety of situations
What did Schaffer and Emerson find that links to this theory?
They found that infants form multiple attachments (link to innate)
Criticism of Bowlby’s research
He placed much emphasis on the role of the mother, but not the father
