Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

Question 1

What are the main points of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 1

Infants are innately programmed to form attachments for survival
Biological process is what forms attachment as we have an attachment gene
Social releasers increase an infants chances of receiving care (clinging, crying, smiling)
Critical period is 6 months to 2 1/2 years
All infants form 1 important bond (monotropy)
This forms an internal working model for future relationships as it acts as a template for later relationships with others (continuity hypothesis)

Question 2

What is the critical period?

Answer 2

6 months to 2 1/2 years

Question 3

What are social releasers?

Answer 3

An innate behaviour which helps to ensure proximity and contact with the mother or attachment figure.

Question 4

What is an example of a social releaser?

Answer 4

Crying, smiling, clinging

Question 5

Monotropy

Answer 5

A child has an innate need to attach to one main attachment figure. It is one relationship that is more important than all of the rest.

Question 6

Internal working model

Answer 6

The relationship with the primary caregiver influences later relationships. This acts as a template for later relationships with others (continuity hypothesis)

Question 7

Strength of Bowlby’s monotropic theory: lorenz’s theory of imprinting

Answer 7

This means that newborns imprint

Question 8

Strength of bowlby’s monotropic theory: Lorenz’s theory of imprinting

Answer 8

E: This means that newborns ‘imprint’ an image of the 1st moving object they see (usually parents) within hours of being born which allows them to stay close