Monotropic Theory Flashcards
Who came up with the monotropic theory?
Bowlby
What does the monotropic theory theorise?
An attachment forms due to an innate system that gives a survival advantage
Attachment evolved because they ensure that young animals stay close to their caregivers and this protects them from hazards
What 3 ways does an attachment promote survival?
Safety / survival
Safe base for exploration
Internal working model
What is safety / survival in terms of attachment?
The attachment keeps mother and child close to each other
Separation results in feelings of anxiety
What is a safe base for exploration in terms of attachment?
The child is happy to wander and explore (necessary for cognitive development) knowing it has a safe space to return to if things become dangerous
This also develops independently necessary in later life
What is an internal working model in terms of attachment?
Bowlby believed that this first relationship forms a template or schema that gives the child an expectation for what a relationship is
The child uses this in future years to develop other relationships and is particularly important in determining the parenting skills in later life
How to we form attachments according to Bowlby?
- Infants have an innate drive to become attached, which takes place during a critical period of 2 years (most likely between 3-6 months)
- Bowlby later proposed a sensitive period of 5 years
- Babies are born with features that elicit caring behaviours, for example having a baby face, smiling or crying
- Infants form one special emotional bond with their primary attachment relationship known as monotropy
- He also claimed there was a hierarchy of attachments with a primary caregiver, usually the mother at the top
How does the internal working model work?
It serves 2 functions:
1) it provides the child with a template into the caregivers behaviour and allows the child to influence their caregivers behaviour later
2) it provides a set of expectations for all future relationships
What is the continuity hypothesis?
States that an infants internal working model will influence their later adult relationships
Infants who are strongly attached are more likely to have socially and emotionally competent relationships in later life
What does a secure attachment in childhood lead to?
Greater emotional and social stability as an adult
What does an insecure attachment in childhood lead to?
They experience difficulties with later relationships
