explanations of attachment - bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

what is the main assumption of bowlby’s monotropic theory?

Answer 1

that attachment is an innate mechanism which enhances survival

Question 2

what are the 5 key terms to remember?

Answer 2

• monotropy
• continuity hypothesis
• critical period
• internal working model
• social releasers

Question 3

what is monotropy?

Answer 3

attaching to one primary caregiver

Question 4

what is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 4

the idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adults

Question 5

what is the critical period?

Answer 5

a biologically determined period of time, during which certain characteristics can develop

Question 6

what is the internal working model?

Answer 6

a mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict and control their environment e.g with attachment this refers to a person’s expectations about relationships

Question 7

what are social releasers?

Answer 7

a social behaviour or characteristic that elicits caregiving and leads to attachment

Question 8

why does attachment form, according to Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 8

• imprinting research led Bowlby to assume that there is similar process in humans

-attachment behaviour evolved as it increases a species chance of survival

• attachment must occur in two directions, parents must be attached to their infants in order to care for them and thus aid survival.

Question 9

how does the critical period explain attachment?

Answer 9

• babies have an innate drive to become attached.
• this innate behaviour is biological and has a special time-period for development.
• this is around 2-3 years.
• infants who do not form attachments in this time frame struggle to form attachments later on

Question 10

how do social releasers explain attachment?

Answer 10

• occur during the critical period, ensuring that attachment between the infant and caregiver occurs, e.g smiling.
• these are innate mechanisms that explain how attachments to infants form.
• they elicit a caregiving response

Question 11

how does monotropy explain attachment?

Answer 11

• Bowlby suggested that infants have one important emotional bond (the primary attachment relationship)
• this is often the infant’s biological mother but not always.
• secondary attachments are also healthy for social development

Question 12

how does the internal working model explain attachment?

Answer 12

• internal working models are our perception of the attachment we have with our primary attachment
  figure.
• therefore, this explains similarities in attachment patterns across families.
• e.g. those who have a dysfunctional internal working model will seek out dysfunctional relationships and
  behave dysfunctionally within them.

Question 13

explanations of attachment full AO1:

Answer 13

• Bowlby argues that infants have a CRITICAL PERIOD, in which attachment must form (2-3 yrs)
• this is done by the infant using SOCIAL RELEASERS (smiling, crying), to gain attention from their caregiver
• if the caregiver is sensitive to the infant’s needs, then a strong attachment will form. this leads to one primary attachment (MONOTROPY)
• this is important as, children who are securely attached go on to be confident, secure and trusting adults (CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS)
• this is because their monotropic relationship forms the basis for a template of all future relationships (INTERNAL WORKING MODEL)

Question 14

evaluation: supporting evidence for internal working model (Bailey)

Answer 14

ID: there is supporting evidence for the internal working model
Q: this comes from research by Bailey et al. who observed mothers using Strange situation
EX: for example, through the observation of 99 mothers and the recording of their children’s
attachment type using the Strange Situation, the researchers found that poor, insecure attachments coincided with the mothers themselves reporting poor attachments with their own parents.
AN: therefore, this suggests that internal working models are likely to be formed during this first, initial attachment and that this has a significant impact on the ability of children to become secure parents themselves later on in life.

Question 15

evaluation: research support for continuity hyp and IWM (Hazan and Shaver)

Answer 15

ID: a strength of B’s theory is that there is research to support the continuity hypothesis and internal working model
Q: Hazan & Shaver (1987), created a love quiz questionnaire to explore the idea that there’s continuity between early attachment types and the quality of later adult romantic relationships.
EX: for example, they gathered info on the ppt’s early attachment types and their attitude towards adult relationships. they found that those who were securely attached as infants tended to have longer lasting relationships than those who were insecurely attached and found it difficult to form and maintain relationships, which often led to divorce and separation.
AN: this supports the idea that childhood experiences have a significant impact on people’s later relationships and suggests that theories relating to the CH (continuity) and the IWM (internal) have at least some validity

Question 16

evaluation: can be socially sensitive

Answer 16

ID: monotropy can be criticised for being socially sensitive
Q: this is because, despite Bowlby not specifying that the primary attachment figure must be the mother, it often is (in 65% of cases)
EX: this means that, this puts pressure on working mothers to delay their return to work in an effort to ensure that their child develops a secure attachment. any developmental abnormalities in terms of attachment are therefore blamed on the mother by default.
AN: this suggests that the idea of monotropy may stigmatise ‘poor mothers’ and pressure them to take responsibility, creating a socially sensitive issue