bowlbys monotropic theory

Question 1

what does bowlby’s theory suggest

Answer 1

that attachments are innate and a result of evolution as they give a survival advantage

Question 2

why is it monotropic

Answer 2

Bowlby emphasised the childs attachment to one caregiver that is different and more important than others.

Question 3

Acronym to summarise the theory

Answer 3

ASCMI:
- Adaptive
- Social releasers
- Critical period
- Monotropy
- Internal working model

Question 4

Adaptive

Answer 4

attachments are an advantage, beneficial to survival as it ensures a child is fed and safe.

Question 5

Social releasers

Answer 5

eg. smiling, cooing, and gripping. Encourage attention from adults. These unlock the innate tendency in adults to care for a child because they activate the adult attachment system

Question 6

Critical period

Answer 6

This is the time in which an attachment can form i.e. up to 2.5 to 3 years
old. Bowby suggested that if an attachment is not formed in this time, it never will. If an
attachment does not form, you will be socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically stunted.
- demonstrated in 44 thieves study

Question 7

Monotropy

Answer 7

monotropy means ‘one carer’. Bowlby suggested that you can only form one intense special attachment (typically the mother). This attachment is unique and different to others.

Question 8

Internal working model

Answer 8

This is a mental schema in relationships that serves as a model for what relationships are like. Therefore it has a powerful effect on the nature of a child’s future relationships. A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to form an expectation that all relationships are loving and reliable. However, a child whose first relationship involves poor treatment will tend to form further poor relationships in which they expect such treatment.

Question 9

weakness of bowlby’s theory (schaffer and emerson)

Answer 9

schaffer and emerson concluded that 65% mother is the first attachment, 30% joint first attachment. This opposes monotropic theory as not all babies have only one attachment, there are many cases of joint attachment.

Question 10

support for bowlbys theory - social releasers

Answer 10

support for bowlbys theory of social releasers comes from Tronik and Brazelton who observed caregiver infant interactions, reporting on the existence of interactional synchrony. Primary attachment figures were instructed to ignore their babies signals and Bowlby would say they were ignoring their social releasers. The babies showed some distress over this. The fact that children responded so strongly supports Bowlby’s ideas about the significance of social behaviout in eliciting caregiving.

Question 11

support for internal working models

Answer 11

The idea of internal working models is testable because it predicts the patterns of future relationships.