bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 1

Rejected learning theory as an explanation of attachment

Instead looked at work of Lorenz and Harlow

Proposed evolutionary explanation that states attachment is innate and gives a survival advantage

Imprinting and attachment evolved to assure we stay close to caregiver and they protect us from hazards

Question 2

Monotropy

Answer 2

Bowlbys theory is described as monotropic as put emphasis on child’s attachment to one particular caregiver (hence word mono)

Believed that the childs attachment to this caregiver is different and more important than any others

Bowlbys referred to this person as the mother
Did not need to be biological mother or female
Moore time baby spent with caregiver, the better

Question 3

What are the two laws

Answer 3

Law of continuity-more constant child’s care, the better the quality of attachment

Law of accumulated separation-effects of every seperation from the mother add up

Question 4

Social releasers and critical period

Answer 4

Suggests babies are born with innate cute behaviors or natural characteristics e.g smiling and crying that encourage attention from adults

These known as social releasers because their purpose is to activate adult social interaction and make an adult attach to baby

Critical period for babies is around 3-6 months
Infants who do not have opportunity to form an attachment during this time find it difficult to form attachments later on

Question 5

Internal working model

Answer 5

Proposed that child forms a mental representation of attachment with caregiver

Serves as model for what relationships are like

Child who’s first experience is of a loving relationship, tend to form expection of all relationships to be loving
Bring these qualities to future relationships

Child with poor treatment will tend to form poorer relationships

Working mod affects child later ability to be parent themselves
People tend to base their parenting behaviour on their own experiences of being patented

Question 6

strength-support for internal working models

Answer 6

idea of internal working model is testable as it predicts that patterns of attachment will be passed on from egneration to the next

Question 7

weakness-mixed evidence for monotropy

Answer 7

bowbly belieevd that babies generally formed one attachment to their primary caregiver and this attachment are special in some way different from later attachments

Question 8

weakness-monotropy is socially sensitive idea

Answer 8

monotrpy is controverisal idea as it has major implications for the lifestyle choices mothers make when their children are young

Question 9

strength-social support for social releasers

Answer 9

clear evidence to show that cute infant behaviours are intended to initial social interaction and that doing so os important to the baby