Attachment: Monotropic Theory 2024 - 2025 Flashcards
Key Term Focus
Name all 5 features of Bowlby’s monotropic theory
- Adaptive
- Social Releasers
- Critical Period
- Monotropy
- Internal Working Model
It’s important to remember these are NOT stages - they are features; they all make up the entire theory
AO1 Focus
What is meant by ‘attachment is adaptive’?
Attachment is an innate system, it is inherited to improve survival
AO1 Focus
What are ‘social releasers’?
Infant’s are born with techniques such as smiling, crying, and looking ‘cute’ to trigger a response in the caregiver
AO1 Focus
What is the purpose of social releasers according to Bowlby?
To trigger a response in the caregiver and ensure an interaction takes place
AO1 Focus
According to Bowlby, what is meant by the ‘critical period’?
A biological period where an attachment needs to take place in the first 2.5 years of life, otherwise it may not take place at all
AO1 Focus
What is meant by the concept of ‘monotropy’?
Child’s attachment to one caregiver is the most important in the childs development
AO1 Focus
What is meant by ‘the internal working model’?
It is a template for what a child expects all future relationships are like
STRETCH: AO1 Focus
What two principles did Bowlby propose relating to the time spent with the monotropy?
- The law of continuity
- The law of accumulated seperation
STRETCH: AO1 Focus
What is meant by the law of continuity?
The quality of a childs attachment will be better if they receive consistent and predictable care
STRETCH: AO1 Focus
What is meant by the law of accumulated seperation?
Substantial time apart from the monotropy risks a poor quality attachment
AO1 Focus
What type of internal working model will a securely attached child receive?
Positive
AO1 Focus
What type of internal working model will an insecurely attached child receive?
Negative
AO1 Focus
A positive internal working model is the result of what type of attachment?
Secure
A negative internal working model is the result of what type of attachment?
Insecure
AO3 Focus
What feature of Bowlby’s monotropic theory does Lorenz support?
Critical period
AO3 Focus
What did Lorenz do?
This will form the first E of your PEEL
Studied imprinting in goslings
This will form the first E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
What did Lorenz find?
This will be your second E of your PEEL
A critical period of 12 - 17 hours in which imprinting needed to occur otherwise it would not later
This will be your second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Why does Lorenz’s study support Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
Because it shows the importance of the critical period - infants must form attachments otherwise it would be difficult to later on
AO3 Focus
Which feature of Bowlby’s monotropic theory does Hazan & Shaver support?
Internal working model
AO3 Focus
Research to support the concept of an internal working model was conducted by, who?
Hazan & Shaver
AO3 Focus
What did Hazan & Shaver find during their study?
This will form part of your second E of your PEEL
- Those who were securely attached had happy and long lasting relationships
- Those who were insecurely attached found it hard to form relationships and many were divorced
This will form part of your second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Why does Hazan and Shaver support the concept of an internal working model?
This will form part of your Link of your PEEL
Because the paritcipants early attachments acted as a template for future relationships
This will form part of your Link of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Which feature of Bowlby’s monotropic theory is contradicted by Schaffer & Emerson?
Monotropy
AO3 Focus
The concept of a ‘monotropy’ is contradicted by, who?
Schaffer & Emerson
AO3 Focus
What did Schaffer & Emerson find in their study?
This will form part of your second E of your PEEL
Infants develop multiple attachments which help them develop emotionally, socially, and cognitively
This will form part of your second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus
Why does Schaffer & Emerson’s study contradict Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
This will form part of your Link in your PEEL
Bowlby’s concept of a monotropy says we only have one attachment
This will form part of your Link in your PEEL
COMPARISON Focus
How is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment different to learning theory’s explanation?
Bowlby suggests attachment is innate, whereas learning theory suggests it is learnt
