bowlby's monotropic theory Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the monotropic theory?

A

the idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attachment with one attachment figure, usually the mother

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2
Q

what era did bowlby see attachment bonds developing in?

A

pleistocene (stone-age) era where humans were faced with constant dangers, so attachments evolved via natural selection to ensure offspring stayed close to caregivers, so people became genetically programmed to behave this way

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3
Q

what are social releasers?

A

-innate infant behaviours that stimulate adult interaction and caregiving
-eg crying to attract attention, looking/smiling/vocalising to maintain attention, following/clinging to gain and maintain proximity

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4
Q

how do attachments form using the monotropic theory?

A

infants display attachment behaviours, in the first year they’re focused on individuals and become organised into behaviour systems
attachments only form if carers respond in a meaningful way
-bowlby believed the evolution of attachment behaviours had a complementary system where carers can respond in a meaningful way, which he saw as occurring with mothers, but said could occur with fathers or non-bio carers

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5
Q

how did bowlby see attachment as functioning?

A

-a control system to maintain proximity to mother
-when its maintained attachment behaviour is ‘quiet’ (no crying etc, which aids mental and social development) but when the state is threatened, attachment behaviours are activated to restore it,
-generally seen when infants are ill/scared

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6
Q

what is the critical period?

A

a specific time period within which an attachment must form, after which it will not be possible for the same bonding to occur
-bowlby believed in infants this was 12 months (or completely useless after 2 1/2 years)

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7
Q

what is the internal working model?

A

a cognitive framework used to understand the world, self and others, that acts as a template for future relationships based on an infants primary attachment
attachment is a hierarchy, where there is one primary and multiple secondary attachments

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8
Q

research on the monotropic theory

A

-lorenz 1935 - certain animals have an innate tendency to respond immediately and consistently to specific stimuli, and will follow anyone displaying such stimuli, suggesting an innate mechanism, which is an evolutionary advantage
-rutter 1981 - mothers aren’t special in the way bowlby believed, no particular attachment behaviour used exclusively for mothers, lessening support

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9
Q

evaluate the monotropic theory

A

-research evidence supports continuity hypothesis, consistency between early attachments and future relationships
-bowlby’s theory has been used by right-wing politicians as ‘proof’ women should stay at home
-imprinting applies to animals, not humans
-bowlby saying humans have a form of imprinting suggests mere exposure to a person is enough for attachment, which schaffer and emerson deny, saying attachments form due to sensitive responsiveness
-bowlby sees fathers as minor attachments, but research says fathers can be attachment figures in their own right

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