Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

Question 1

Outline Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

Answer 1

Placed great emphasis on child’s attachment to one particular caregiver
Believed child’s attachment to this caregiver different & more important than others
This person called ‘mother’ but didn’t need to be bio mother or female
More time spent with primary attachment figure = the better

Law of continuity = more constant & predictable a child’s care, better quality of attachment
Law of accumulated separation = effects of every separation from mum add up - ‘safest dose is zero dose’

Question 2

Outline social releasers

Answer 2

Bowlby said babies born with set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling, cooing & gripping that encourage attention from adults
Known as social releasers as their purpose = activate adult social interaction & make adult attachment to baby
Bowlby recognised attachment = reciprocal process - both mum & baby hard-wired to become attached

Question 3

Evaluate Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

Answer 3

LIMITATION - Concept of Monotropy lacks validity
E.g. - Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found although most babies attached to one person at first, significant minority formed multiple attachments at same time. First attachment has particularly strong influence on later behaviour, but may just be stronger, not different in quality from other attachments.
Ex.- Bowlby may be incorrect that there’s unique quality & importance to primary attachment

LIMITATION - Feminist concerns
E.g. - Laws of continuity & accumulated separation suggest working mums may negatively affect child’s emotional development.
Feminists like Burman (1994) point out this beliefs sets up mums to take blame for anything that goes wrong for child in future. Also gives excuse to restrict mum’s activities, e.g. returning to work
Ex. - Bowlby’s theory could do more harm than good