Bowlbys Monotropic Theory Flashcards
Evolutionary theory
Tendency to formattachment is innate
-we attach for our survival (adaptive behaviour)
Evolution of attachment
Useful features that help a species reproduce of survive are passed on people women are more likely to mate with males who have survival features eg tall, strong
- attachment is a behaviour that has evolved and become innate cause it’s key for survival to have someone to teach and protect them how to look after themselves.
-adaptive behaviour - innate drive to attach gives us adaptive advantage
Bowlbys monotropic theory of attachment
MICIS
M-monotropic
I- internal working model
C- critical period
I- innate
S-social releasers
Monotropy
Some singular attachment to mother (if no mother mother substitute)
Internal working model
Template for all future relationships based off relationship with monotropic attachment.
- template/ expectations of how a relationship should work
Positive attachment = socially and emotionally comoentant in later life
Negative attachment = social and emotional difficulties in later life
Critical period
The window of opportunity for attachment to occur with mother
-critical period birth-2 1/2 years
-if it doesn’t happen child will be damaged for life emotional, intellectual and physically.
Innate
Born with drive to attach
- gives us an adaptive advantage - more likely to survive (given food and protection)
Social releasers
Babies have social releasers that push the adults innate tendency to care for them.
Physical - baby face
Behavioural - crying
Evaluation of bowlbys theory of attachment
✖️monotropy - Shaffer and Emerson - some babies form multiple attachments at the same time.
✔️- influential - in understanding adult relationships and the experiences of children in care homes and how to better look after children.
✔️- Baily - support theory of internal working model
- as mothers who report negative attachment to their mother are likely to have insecure/ negative attach, met with their children.
