Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

Outline

Answer 1

he proposed that we are born with the ability to form attachments as having someone provide for us and protect us would have helped us survive in hunter-gatherer times.

Question 2

Social releasers

Answer 2

designed to reinforce attachment bonds through encouragement of caregiving (e.g. smiling and crying)

Question 3

Monotropy

Answer 3

suggests that the child first forms one special attachment that is stronger and more influential than others.
this relationship that the infant forms with their mother figure or primary figure provides them with an internal working model.

Question 4

Internal working model

Answer 4

a set of expectations of how relationships should be.
these are heavily influenced by how the mother treats the baby in the first few years, if neglected they will assume this is how people will treat them in relationships. (continuity hypothesis)

Question 5

Exploration

Answer 5

the mother provides a safe base for exploration in that the child can investigate their environment and can return to the safe base of their mother if they are afraid.
CRITICAL PERIOD: first two years

Question 6

Evaluation strength: Brazelton et al (1975)

Answer 6

found that infants became more distressed when the primary caregiver was instructed to ignore them when they cried.

Question 7

Evaluation strength: Hazan and Shaver

Answer 7

found those who were securely attached infants had close, loving and trusting relationships in adulthood.

Question 8

Evaluation weakness: Schaffer and Emerson

Answer 8

found Glaswegian babies formed multiple attachments at the same time as their primary attachment.

Question 9

Evaluation weakness: socially sensitive

Answer 9

negative implications for mothers as it implies that dysfunctional behaviour is caused by them not attending to their child’s needs in infancy.

Question 10

Evaluation weakness: the role of temperament

Answer 10

research suggests infants are born with a certain personality.