Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

What does monotropic mean?

Answer 1

Suggests one attachment in particular differs from the others

Question 2

What did Bowlby say about learning theory as an explanation of attachment?

Answer 2

• ‘Were it true, an infant of a year or two should take readily to whomever feeds him, and this is clearly not the case’

Question 3

What is monotropy in Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 3

• Placed an emphasis on a child’s attachment to ONE particualr caregiver
• This attachment is different and more important than other attachments
• This is typically the mother

Question 4

What are the principles to clarifiy monotropy in Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 4

• The law of continuity- more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality their attachment will be
• The law of accumlated separation- effects of everyday separation from the mother add up (safest= ‘zero dose’)

Question 5

What are ‘social releasers’?

Answer 5

• Babies are born with an innate set of ‘cute’ behaviours
• E.g: cooing, smiling, gripping
• Their purpose is to activate adult social interaction and create attachments
• (Mother and baby= hard wired to attach)

Question 6

What was Bowlby’s criticial period?

Answer 6

• Around 6 months
• (May extend to 2 years)

Question 7

What is the ‘internal working model’?

Answer 7

• Children form mental representations of their relationship with a primary attachment figure
• Serves as a model for future relationships

Question 8

What expectation is a child whose first experience was a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver likely to have?

Answer 8

• Form an explanation of all relationships as loving and reliable
• They bring these qualities to future relationships

Question 9

Limitation:
I- Validity of monotropy has been challenged

Answer 9

D- Schaffer and Emerson found although most babies do attach to one person first, a minority formed multiple attachments at the same time. First attachment does have a strong influence on later behaviour, but this may not be any different in quality from other attachments
E- Means Bowlby may be incorrect in the view that there is a unique quality of a child’s primary attachment

Question 10

Strength:
I- Support for social releasers

Answer 10

D- Brazelton et al observed babies trigger adult interactions using social releasers. Primary attachment figure told to ignore social releasers, which results in increasingly distressed babies
E- Ilustrates the role of social releasers in emotional development

Question 11

Strength:
I- Support for internal working model

Answer 11

D- Internal working model predicts that attachment patterns will be passed on. Bailey et al assessed attachment relationships and wuality in 99 mothers and 1 year old children. Mothers with poor attachment to own primary attachment figure were more likely to have poorly attached babies
E- Supports the view that mothers’ ability to form attachments is influenced by the internal working model

Question 12

Limitation:
I- There are other influences on social development

Answer 12

D- E.g: some psychologists believe genetic differences in anxiety and sociability affect social behaviour in babies and adults. Kornienko said these differences impact parenting ability
E- Means Bowlby likely overstates the importance of the internal working model

Question 13

Evaluation extra:
Feminist concerns

Answer 13

LIMITATION:
- Theory has caused more harm than good- laws of continuity and accumulated separation imply that working mothers can harm babies. Burman argues these ideas can be used to blame mothers and restrict their activities

STRENGTH:
- Before Bowlby’s research, people did not see the mother’s role as important. Bolwby’s ideas have practical application- e.g: use of key workers (nursery nurses