Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

Question 1

What type of explanation is Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 1

• Evolutionary explanation
• Attachment is an innate process

Question 2

Elements to the theory

Answer 2

• Monotropy
• Social releasors
• Critical period
• Internal working model

Question 3

Define monotropy

Answer 3

• Attachment to one particular caregiver
• This attachment is different and more important
• More time spent with caregiver the better

Question 4

What laws did Bowlby propose under monotropy?

Answer 4

Law of continuity: the more predictable care is, the better quality the attachment is

Law of accumulated separation: effect of time spent away from the caregiver adds up

Question 5

What are social releasers?

Answer 5

• Inborn cute behaviours
• Activate adult attachment system
• Trigger innate predisposition to become attached

Question 6

Describe the critical period

Answer 6

• 6 months
• time frame in which infant attachment system is most active
• Sensitive period: can extend to 2 years
• Failure to form attachment during this period has inevitable consequences

Question 7

Internal working model

Answer 7

• Mental representation of relationship with primary caregiver
• Template for model, future relationships

Question 8

Evaluations

Answer 8

+ Social releasers designed to elicit a response: Brazelton - babies become distressed when ignored

• Monotropy? - Schaffer and Emerson,27% form joint attachment as primary

+ Bailey 99 mothers - IWM: poor attachment to parents –> insecurely attached children

• Kornienko: genetic differences could explain parenting ability (not IWM) e.g. anxiety and social ability