Explanations of Attachment: Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

Question 1

Describe why attachments are formed in terms of Bowlby’s theory

Answer 1

Attachment behaviour evolved because it serves an important survival function (both ways as parents need to ensure their infants safety)

Question 2

Describe how attachment is formed in terms of Bowlby’s theory (critical period)

Answer 2

• Babies have an innate drive to become attached
• Is around 3-6 months and those who don’t form an attachment in this time will find it difficult to form attachments later on.
• Bowlby proposed attachment is determined by sensitivity, influenced by Ainsworth as infants seemed strongly attached to those who were more responsive.

Question 3

Describe how attachment is formed in terms of Bowlby’s theory (social releasers)

Answer 3

• They are social behaviours (smiling and ‘baby face’) that elicit caregiving and are important to ensure attachment develops.
• These are innate mechanisms are explain how attachments are formed

Question 4

Describe how attachment is formed in terms of Bowlby’s theory (monotropy)

Answer 4

• Bowlby proposed infants have one special emotional bond.
• May also have secondary attachments that provides an important emotional safety net

Question 5

Describe the consequences of attachment in terms of Bowlby’s theory

Answer 5

• Due to monotropy, the infants forms a mental representation of this relationship called an internal working model
• The model gives the child insight into the caregiver’s behaviour and enables the child to influence the caregiver’s behaviour. Long term, it acts as a template for future relationships as it generates expectations about what intimate relationships are like.
• The continuity hypothesis proposes there is continuity from infant to adulthood in terms of emotional type

Question 6

Describe the evolutionary perspective in Bowlby’s theory

Answer 6

• Strong attachment and the consequences are adaptative based on Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection
• Bowlby argued there would have been a strong selective pressure for close attachment to happen

Question 7

What is the law of continuity?

Answer 7

The more constant and predictable a child’s care is, the better the quality of their attachment

Question 8

What is the law of accumulated separation?

Answer 8

• Effects of every separation from the mother adds and has negative effects.
• ‘Safest dose is therefore a zero dose’ (of separation) Bowlby, 1975. Bowlby highlights the importance of a present mother
• However there are working mothers, so the child may have to looked after by a father or someone else

Question 9

What is the critical period as outlined by Bowlby?

Answer 9

A biologically determined period of time, during which certain characteristics can develop. Outside of this time window, attachment isn’t possible ( up to 2.5 years)

Question 10

What is a sensitive period?

Answer 10

A period of time where attachment can still, it is just more difficult (up to 5 years)

Question 11

Give evaluation for monotropic theory (continuity hypothesis)

Answer 11

• Supporting evidence for the internal working model and continuity hypothesis
• Sroufe et al (2005)’s study followed participants from infancy to late adolescence and found continuity between early attachment and later emotional behaviour. Those were securely attached in infancy were rated higher for social competence in child.
• Suggests a clear link between early and later attachments and ultimately provides validity to Bowlby’s theory

Question 12

Give evaluation for monotropic theory (evolutionary psychology)

Answer 12

• Support from evolutionary psychology and the adaptive advantage of attachment
• When infants start to crawl (6 months) attachment is vital for protection which is why attachment develops which provides validity to Bowlby’s monotropic theory.
• However, the theory doesn’t explain why attachment doesn’t form earlier as human require protection from the moment they’re born. This means Bowlby’s theory cannot explain why attachment only occurs around 6-7 months, thus questioning whether attachment is an innate, adaptive behaviour

Question 13

Give evaluation for monotropic theory (alternative explanation)

Answer 13

• The temperament hypothesis proposed by Kagan (1984) suggests infants with a easy emotional personality (temperament) are more likely to become securely attached as it’s easier to interact with them whereas those who are ‘difficult’ tend to be insecurely attached.
• Supported by Belsky and Rovine (1987) as they found infants between 1-3 days old who had signs of behavioural instability were later judged to be more likely to be insecurely attached
• Questions Bowbly’s idea that attachment type is due to the primary attachment figure’s sensitivity

Question 14

Give evaluation for monotropic theory (critical period)

Answer 14

• The idea of a ‘critical period’ has been criticized
• Rutter et al showed the critical period is true to extent, attachment is less likely but impossible.
• Researchers then prefer to use the term sensitive period that attachment can occur outside of the developmental window, where children are most receptive to certain behaviours.
• Suggests Bowlby’s theory is somewhat outdated