Bowlbys Monotropic theory of attachment

Question 1

Outline Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment and identify the key terms used to summarise it.

Answer 1

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment takes on an evolutionary perspective. The theory suggests infants have an innate drive to form attachments with their primary caregiver to survive.

• Adaptive
• Social releasers
• Critical period
• Monotropy
• Internal Working Model

Question 2

Outline what is meant by adaptive in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 2

Attachments are adaptive as it increases an infants chances of survival. If an infant forms an attachment the caregiver will provide them with food, warmth and care therefore there chances of survival increase.

Question 3

Outline what is meant by social releasers in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 3

They are inborn physical and behavioural characteristics within an infant that unlock an innate tendency in adults to care for them.

• Physical characteristics could include button nose, big eyes, cute face.
• Behavioural characteristics could include crying, cooing and smiling to get the caregivers attention.

Question 4

Outline what is meant by critical period in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 4

• It is the period Bowlby suggested an attachment had to occur which is 3-6 months however he argued it could be up to 3 years, if not it would be extremely difficult to form an attachment.
• The infant would also suffer emotionally, physically, cognitively and socially.

Question 5

Outline what is meant by monotropy in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 5

It is the claim that infants will only form one special attachment and bond towards their primary caregiver. However when their primary caregiver is not available which will usually be the mother, they can bond with another adult known as the mother substitute.

Question 6

Outline what is meant by internal working model in Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 6

-the internal working model is an internal template within an infant for future relationships that is formed through monotropic attachment.
EG:
-If an infant has a positive healthy relationship with primary caregiver they will then have positive healthy relationships in the future.

Question 7

AO3 for Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment.

Answer 7

• Hazan and shaver
• Nature vs Nurture (interactionist)
• Schaffer and Emerson
• Lorenz