Bowlby's Monotrophic Theory

Question 1

What is the evolutionary theory?

Answer 1

• tendency to imprint is innate
• attachments have evolutionary functions
• attachment as innate system gives survival advantage
• through evolution infants are preprogrammed to behave towards mother increasing chance of survival.

Question 2

What is monotropy?

Answer 2

Placing emphasis on child’s attachment to ONE caregiver which is DIFFERENT and MORE important than others

Question 3

Innate

Answer 3

• child born with bio abilities to seek attachment figure
• adaptive as attachment aids survival

Question 4

Social releasers

Answer 4

• born with innate behaviours encouraging attention
• crying, smiling, cooing, clinging active adult attachment system
• attachment reciprocal

Question 5

Critical period

Answer 5

• must form attachment during birth-2.5years or wont form one at all
• will be serious consequences to emotional, social, intellectual development

Question 6

Monotropy relation to attachment

Answer 6

• innate tendency to become attached to one particular adult who interacts with most sensitivity
• attachment is unique, first to develop, strongest
• has significant impact on development

Question 7

Internal working model

Answer 7

• through attachment with primary caregiver infant forms mental representation of relationship with primary caregiver
• template for what relationships like
• relationships experienced creates future expectations, moulding how person behaves with others

Question 8

Evaluation

Answer 8

1. Lacks validity: Schaffer found children form multiple attachments after a year. Suggests incorrect as secondary caregiver attachment just as important. Contradicting evidence
2. Research support IWM: Hazan + Shaver found consistency between child’s first attachment and later relationships, suggests acts as template. Valid. C- other factors influence later rel like parenting styles. Overstated importance of IWM.
3. Supporting research: Lorenz found goslings important on first moving object with innate attachment. Innate pre-programming provides evolutionary advantage for survival. C- can’t extrapolate bc of brains. Lacks validity
4. Real world applications- understanding importance of critical period as without wouldn’t know impact on infants emo/soc/int development