Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

What is Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 1

• Bowlby (1953)
• Attachment is biologically pre-programmed into children at birth - encoded into human genes
• Born with inherited genes to survive
• Innate - biologically programmed into babies from birth
• Proximity - seek proximity from mothers to protect them
• Monotropy - infants have one special emotional bond
• Internal working model - mental representation of what relationships are like
• Critical period - must be in the period of 2.5 years

Question 2

What is a social releaser?

Answer 2

Important for development of attachment as elects caregiving from parent, they are innate mechanisms - crying, smiling, baby faces, clinging

Question 3

How does Harlow’s findings support the concept of innate programming, monotropy and the internal working model?

Answer 3

• The monkey findings support concepts of innate and monotropy because monkeys instinctively sought to be closer to the cloth monkey even though it was fake. Also supports the idea of the internal working model because the monkey didn’t form relationships as a infant monkey and went onto become bad mothers