Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

Question 1

Adaptive

Answer 1

• attachment is an innate evolutionary behaviour
• enhances chances of survival by ensuring vulnerable infants are looked after

Question 2

what is EEA?

Answer 2

environment of evolutionary adaptiveness
- adaptations caused by selective pressures

Question 3

what is monotrophy?

Answer 3

• we are primed to form a special attachment to a specific caregiver
• more important than secondary attachments which can be formed
• about the person who responds best to babies needs

Question 4

what are social releases?

Answer 4

• behaviours that infants display to encourage caregivers to become attached
• pre-programmed to display these behaviours (innate) e.g. crying, smiling, finger grasping etc.

Question 5

what is the critical period?

Answer 5

• inspired by ethological evidence (Lorenz)
• Bowlby claimed human attachment needed to happen within 3 - 6 months
• failing to attach in this period can cause negative consequences in later life

Question 6

what is the internal working model?

Answer 6

• babies form a schema of what a healthy attachment and relationship is, based on their primary attachment
• forms the basis of their future interactions and relationships

Question 7

what is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 7

• follows from the internal working model
• concept that your primary attachment will continue to influence you and affect your behaviour in the long term
  e.g. securely attached children will have securely attached relationships

Question 8

strengths of bowlbys theory

Answer 8

Animal research to support it
- Lorenz and Harlow found evidence that attachment is an innate behaviour
Evidence to Support Continuity
- Sroufe: longitudinal study for parent-child relationships and found a continuity for early attachment and later emotional/social relationships

Question 9

limitations of bowlby’s theory

Answer 9

The idea of the Critical Period
- Rutter found children who were unable to form attachments in the critical period formed them later in life
Alternative explanations
- kagan said temperament affected type of attachment formed, easy temp=secure attach