bowlby’s monotropic theory AO1

Question 1

what did bowlby propose?

Answer 1

• an evolutionary explanation
• that attachment was an innate system that gives a survival advantage

Question 2

bowlby’s theory is described as …. because he placed great …. on a child’s attachment to …. particular caregiver. he believed that the child’s attachment to this …. caregiver is ….. and …. important than others. bowlby called this person the ‘……’ but it was clear that need … be the …. mother. bowlby believed that the …. time a baby spent with this mother-figure (…. ….. ….) the ….

Answer 2

bowlby’s theory is described as monotropic because he placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver. he believed that the child’s attachment to this one caregiver is different and more important than others. bowlby called this person the ‘mother’ but it was clear that it need not be the biological mother. bowlby believed that the more time a baby spent with this mother-figure (primary attachment figure) the better.

Question 3

what are social releasers?

Answer 3

• bowlby suggested babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute behaviours like smiling and cooing that encourage attention from adults

Question 4

a …. …. purpose is to activate …. …. …. and so make an adult … to the baby. bowbly recognised that attachment was a ….. process. both mother and baby are ‘…..’ to become attached

Answer 4

a social releasers purpose is to activate adult social interaction and so make an adult attach to the baby. bowlby recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process. both mother and baby are ‘hard-wired’ to become attached.

Question 5

bowlby proposed that there is a …. period around .. months when the infant attachment …. is ….. . bowbly viewed this as more of a …. period. a child is maximally …. at … months and this possible extends up to the age of … . if an attachment is not for me in this time, a child will find it much … to form one later

Answer 5

bowlby proposed that there is a critical period around 6 months when the infant attachment system is active. bowlby viewed this as more of a sensitive period. a child is maximally sensitive at 6 months and this possibly extends up to the age of 2. if an attachment is not formed in this time, a child will find it much harder to form one later.