Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

Monotropy

Answer 1

• A child’s att to a certain caregiver is different and more important than others
• More time spent with the primary att figure the better
• 2 principles:
• Law of continuity - the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality off att
• Law of accumulated separation - the effects of every separation from the mother add up (the safest dose is 0)

Question 2

Social releasers

Answer 2

Social releasers are innate ‘cute’ behaviours (e.g smiling, cooing) that are supposed to attract attention from adults and make adults attached to them
- Bowlby recognised the att was reciprocal - both mother and baby are wired to become attached

Question 3

Critical period

Answer 3

• Time within which an att must form if it is to form at all
• Bowlby proposed there is a critical period at around 6 months
• Viewed it more as a sensitive period - child is sensitive between 6 months and 2 years
• If att isn’t formed in this time, child will find it harder to form one later

Question 4

Internal working model

Answer 4

• A child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary att figure - serves as a model of what relationships are like
• e.g child who forms loving relationship with caregiver will form an expectation that all relationships are loving - will bring these qualities to their future relationships
• Opposite for child who forms a poor relationship with caregiver
• IWM affects the child’s later ability to parent - people tend to base their parenting behaviour on their own experiences of being parented

Question 5

BMT - Evaluation - Strength

Answer 5

• Support for social releasers
• Clear evidence that cute baby behaviours are designed to elicit interaction from caregivers
• Research observed babies trigger interactions with adults using social releasers - instructed babies PAF to ignore their babies social releasers - babies became distressed and lay motionless
• Illustrates role of social releasers in emotional development and attachment development

Question 6

BMT - Evaluation - Limitation

Answer 6

• Concept of monotropy lacks validity
• Research found that although most babies did attach to one person at first, a significant minority formed multiple att at the same time
• Although first att does seem to have a strong influence on later behaviour - may mean that att isn’t different just stronger
• e.g other att to family members provide all same key qualities
• Bowlby may be incorrect that there is a unique quality and importance to child’s primary att