bowlby's monotropic theory Flashcards
what is the monotropic theory?
the idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attachment with one attachment figure, usually the mother
what era did bowlby see attachment bonds developing in?
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
what are social releasers?
-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
how do attachments form using the monotropic theory?
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
how did bowlby see attachment as functioning?
-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
what is the critical period?
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)
what is the internal working model?
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
research on the monotropic theory
-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
evaluate the monotropic theory
-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
