Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory Flashcards
What is Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
It emphasises an infants attachment to one particular (primary) caregiver, whom their attachment to is different and more important than other attachments. The less separation and the more time the infant spends with them, the better
What were Bowlby’s ideas regarding attachment and biology?
He believed that attachment was innate and developed as a survival advantage, as it protects infants by ensuring they stay close to their primary caregiver
What are social releasers?
Innate ‘cute’ behaviours (eg. cooing) intended to attract the attention of and elicit a response from caregivers, ultimately leading to an attachment being formed. This links to Bowlby’s belief that attachment is innate and developed as a survival advantage
What is the Internal Working Model?
A mental blueprint of what a relationship should entail (eg. trust, respect) used to form and navigate later attachments. It is based on an infant’s attachment to their primary caregiver, which why good quality attachment to a primary caregiver is crucial.
What is the critical period for humans that Bowlby identified during which attachment must occur, or it won’t at all?
Up to 2 and a half years, though he later proposed a sensitive period until age 5
Which study supports Bowlby’s idea of the Internal Working Model?
Bowlby’s study using The Strange Situation, in which he found that mothers attachment type matched that of both their baby and their mother
What practical applications are there of Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
- Changes legalisations in terms of maternity leave and hospital visitations
- Changes in terms of the care of infants in adoption and foster homes
Which study supports the importance of social releasers?
- Brazelton, who found that when babies attempts to interact were ignored by their caregiver, they became highly distressed and often curled up and cried
What did Emerson & Schaffer and Van Ljzendoorn find that contradicts Bowlby’s idea of monotropy?
- That multiple attachments can appear first especially in collectivistic cultures
Why is Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory socially sensitive?
It pressurises parents to stay home as it is deterministic in terms of the critical period and the Internal Working Model
What are 3 potential economic implications of Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?
- Reduced daycare use, resulting in less revenue and jobs within the childcare industry
- More stay-at-home parents, resulting in reduced household incomes due to a lack of dual-income households and less economic growth
- Less tax revenue for the government as a result of less people working
