Explanations of attachment - Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

What are the key principles of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

Answer 1

Attachment is monotropic
It is innate and adaptive
Babies have social releases
Attachment has a critical period
Internal working model

Question 2

Bowlby’s monotropic theory - attachment is monotropic

Answer 2

Monotropy is the preference for one person - they have the capacity to form one primary attachment that is more important than all other secondary attachments

Question 3

Bowlby’s monotropic theory - attachment is innate and adaptive

Answer 3

Babies are born with instincts and parents possess similar instincts to respond to these social releases. It is therefore an adaptive trait as it has evolutionary advantages as it leads to the likelihood of survival.

Question 4

Bowlby’s monotropic theory - social releases

Answer 4

Caregivers instinctively respond to social releases. Characteristics - cute face. Behaviours - smiling, crying.

Question 5

Bowlby’s monotropic theory - critical period

Answer 5

2.5 - 3 years of a child’s life

Question 6

Bowlby’s monotropic theory forms an internal working model

Answer 6

Individual template for all future relationships based on their first monotropic attachment. Provides a secure base for infants to explore the world.

Question 7

Is there supporting evidence for the monotropic theory?

Answer 7

Critical period comes from Lorenz’s study of geese. Harlow’s study shows sensitivity over food.

Question 8

Research for monotropic theory cannot be generalised

Answer 8

Lack of biological continuity as geese are precocial

Question 9

Does the monotropic theory have practical applications?

Answer 9

Improvement in childcare services, as nurseries now have one key worker to maintain attachment to the child

Question 10

Is there an alternative theory to the monotropic theory?

Answer 10

Kagan suggests that there is a continuity between early attachment and later relationships due to the child’s temperament.