Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory Of Attachment

Question 1

What are social releasers

Answer 1

Babies’ instinctive behaviours such as smiling cooing and gripping that have evolved to elicit positive responses and interaction from adults.
This allows an attachment to occur.

Question 2

What is monotropy

Answer 2

The idea that one relationship that the infant has with his/her primary attachment is of special significance in emotional development.

Question 3

What is an internal working model

Answer 3

A mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict and control their environment.
A mental representation of their first attachment which acts as a prototype for future relationships

Question 4

What did Bowlby suggest about attachment

Answer 4

• humans have an innate tendency to form attachments
• this tendency is an adaptive behaviour to help a species survive
• adopted the idea of a critical period
• adopted the idea that specific attachment can have an emotional and social effect on future relationships

Question 5

What does MICIS stand for

Answer 5

M onotropy
I nternal working model
C ritical period
I nnate
S ocial releasers

Question 6

Those who are securely attached in infancy continue to be emotionally and socially _________
Whereas infants who are not strongly attached in infancy continue to have emotional and social ______________

Answer 6

Competent, difficulties

Question 7

What did bowlby suggest about the critical period

Answer 7

• critical period is between birth and 21/2 years
• if attachment is not formed during this period then the child could be damaged physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually

Question 8

AO3 evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

Answer 8

• attachment is adaptive and it has been questioned whether in humans it is a survival mechanism. However in the modern world from 0-3 months an attachment isn’t necessary for survival as mothers hold them, once crawling at around 6 months the attachment is needed. This supports the idea that his theory is adaptive and attachment is innate.
• there is research which supports there being a central person higher than others that the infant attaches to
• continuity hypothesis, Sroufe et al. Found that securely attached infants were rated higher for social competence (more popular and empathetic)

Question 9

What is the continuity hypothesis

Answer 9

The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and confident adults.

Question 10

what research supports Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

Answer 10

• lorenz supports critical period
• Harlow supoprts idea of critical period and the IWM
• hazen and shcaffer supporting IWM and continuity