Bowlby’s Monotropy theory

Question 1

What does Monotropy mean?

Answer 1

-a child’s attachment is to one particular caregiver.

Question 2

What are the two principles of monotropy?

Answer 2

1. Law of continuity
2. Law of accumulated separation

Question 3

What are social releasers?

Answer 3

-innate behaviours
-crying/cooing
-babies use them to gain attention from adults

Question 4

What is the Critical period?

Answer 4

-6months
-infant attachment is most sensitive

Question 5

What is the internal working model?

Answer 5

-mental representation that suggests the relationship with your care giver may affect the attachment you have with your own child.

Question 6

What is a weakness of monotropy theory?

Answer 6

-Schaffer and Emerson found babies can have multiple attachments at the same time.
-suggesting monotropy isn’t valid.

Question 7

What is a strength for Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 7

-Bailey et al found when studying 99mothers and their 1year olds and attachments with the mothers, mothers.
-That past relationships do effect future relationships.

Question 8

Weakness of IWM?

Answer 8

-Kornienko
- suggests IWM may not be the only factor that effects parenting ability, it may also be from genetic mental health issues. (anxiety)

Question 9

Is Bowlby’s theory socially sensitive?

Answer 9

-yes
-the law of continuity suggests that if mothers who work may negatively effect child emotional development, making the mother feel guilty about going back to their normal lives.