Attachment: Explanations for Attachment: Bowlby Flashcards
Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory
John Bowlby rejected learning theory. He was commissioned by the WHO to compose a report on maternal care and mental health, particularly focused on homeless children after WW2
Monotropic theory:
The idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attachment with one attachment figure (usually the mother).
Influenced by Harlow’s research on monkeys & Lorenz’s goslings.
Infants have an innate drive to survive and proximity to the mother is the best way to ensure that safety.
Evolutionary basis of Monotropic Theory
security equals survival.
Law of continuity:
The more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
Law of Accumulated Separation:
The effects of every separation from the mother add up “and safest dose is therefore a zero dose.”
Evaluation: Mixed evidence for Monotropy
Schaffer and Emerson (1964): significant minority of babies formed multiple attachments at the same time – some evidence against the theory.
eval Social Releasers
Brazleton et al. (1975)
1. Observed interactional synchrony in mums and babies.
2. Experiment: mums ignored baby social releasers. Babies showed distress & responded by curling up and lying motionless
This supports Bowlby’s ideas about significance of infant social behaviour eliciting caregiving.
Monotropic theory:
Critical period
6 months
Sensitive period - monotrpobc theory
6 months to 2 years.
Monotropic Theory: Internal Working Model
Internal Working Model:
A mental representation used to understand the world, self, and others, that acts as a template for future relationships based on an infant’s primary attachment. \
Bailey et al. (2007):
99 mothers & 1 year old babies on quality of attachment:
1. Standard interview about their (mums) attachment to their own mothers.
2. Observation of mothers interacting with babies.
Mothers who reported poor attachments to their mum had poor attachment with their kids in the observation.
Bailey et al. (2007):
Bailey et al. (2007):
99 mothers & 1 year old babies on quality of attachment:
1. Standard interview about their (mums) attachment to their own mothers.
2. Observation of mothers interacting with babies.
Evaluation of Monotropic Theory valid
- Lack of validity; Schaffer and Emerson (1964) argued that although most babies formed one primary attachment, a minority formed multiple. Furthermore, they argued that the primary attachment may be stronger and not differ in quality to others, hence why it influences behaviour.
Evaluation of Monotropic Theory two ways
Schaffer and Emerson both supports and goes against the study).
Evaluation of Monotropic Theory social
- Evidence to support social releasers: Brazelton et all (1975) instructed babies primary attachment to ignore babies when they displayed their social releaser behaviour and it showed signs of massive distress.
Evaluation of Monotropic Theory support I
- Support for internal working model; Bailey et al. (2007) looked at how consistent attachment was across generations. Marinus van Ijzendoorn (1995) carried out a meta-analysis of the results of 18 similar studies covering 854 parents. Results supported that well-attached parents tended to have children with good attachments.
