Bowlbys monotropic theory Flashcards
What are social releasers.
Babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling, cooing and gripping that encourage attention from caregivers and make the adult feel love towards the baby. Bowlby recognised that attachment is a reciprocal process; whilst the infant has social releasers, the adult is innately predisposed to these.
What idea Bowlby reject?
Learning theory of attachment.
He believed that attachment behaviours are innate and adaptive.
Outline Bowlbys idea of a critical period.
Bowlby applied the idea of a critical period to humans.
He suggested that if a human does not form an attachment before the age of 3-6 months (the critical period) then an attachment would never occur.
What did Bowlby later change his critical period idea to?
A sensitive period of up to two years where an attachment can form but it takes longer to do so.
What is monotrophy?
The idea that infants need to attach to one main attachment figure.
Outline monotropy.
The one special, unique attachment bond is more important than the rest.
-Thus is usually with the mother.
-The bond should be continuous and the caregiver and infant should not be separated for long periods of time.
Outline Bowlbys internal working model.
The idea that an infants bond to their primary caregiver creates a mental representation/template for how their future relationships should be.
For example, a child who experiences a loving bond with their caregiver will typically grow up with the idea that relationships should be loving.
However, a child who has experienced neglect from their caregiver will tend to form poor relationships with others.
Give a strength of Bowlbys monotropic theory. (research support for internal working model)
One strength of Bowlbys monotropic theory is that there is research support for the idea of the internal working model. Bailey assessed attachment relationships in 99 mothers and their one year old babies by measuring the mothers attachment to their own primary attachment figures (e.g their mother). The researchers also assessed the quality of the mothers relationship to their babies. They found that the mothers with poor attachment to their own primary attachment figures had poorly attached babies,
This supports Bowlbys idea of the internal working model.
Give a limitation of Bowlbys monotropic theory. (concept of monotropy lacks validity)
One limitation of Bowlbys monotropic theory is that the concept of monotropy lacks validity. For example, Schaffer and Emerson found that although babies did attach to one person at first, a significant minority formed multiple attachments at one time. Although, the first attachment does have a particular strong influencer on later behaviour this does not mean it is different in quality.
Give a limitation of bowlbys monotropic theory (feminist concerns).
One limitation of Bowlbys monotropic theory is that it has sparked feminist concerns. For example, the theory suggests that mothers who work may negatively affect their Child’s emotional development. Feminists point out that this belief sets mothers up to take the blame for anything that goes wrong in the Child’s future. It also gives employers an excuse to restrict mother’s activities.
Give a counter argument for the feminist concerns surrounding Bowlbys monotropic theory.
At the time of Bowlbys research, people did not think that the mothers role was important and in fact, many custody disputes were settled in the favour of the father as mothers were see as unnecessary.
Give a strength of Bowlbys monotropic theory (research support for social releasers).
A further strength is that there is evidence supporting the role of social releasers. There is clear evidence that cute baby behaviours are designed to elicit interaction from caregivers. E.g Brazelton observed babies trrigger interactions with adults using social releasers. The researchers had instructed the babies primary attachment figures to ignore their babies social releasers. Babies became increasingly distressed and some eventually curled up motionless. This illustrates the role of social releasers in emotional development and suggests that they are important in the process of attachment development.
