Theories And Research Of Attachment - Bowlby’s Theory Of Monotropy

Question 1

What are the two theories of attachment?

Answer 1

• Evolutionary theory (innate)
• Learning theory (food)

Question 2

What does Bowlby say about attachment?

Answer 2

Attachment is a behaviour that has evolved because of its survival value

Question 3

What does SO MAGIC stand for? (A way to remember bowlbys monotropic theory)

Answer 3

So= social releaser
M= monotropy
A= adaptive advantage
G= good quality care
I= internal working model
C= critical period

Question 4

What is a social releaser?

Answer 4

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

e.g. looking cute, giggling

Question 5

What is monotropy?

Answer 5

The idea that the one relationship that the infant has with his/her primary caregiver/attachment figure is of special significance in emotional development (one special attachment)

Question 6

What does adaptive advantage mean?

Answer 6

Attachments enable us to effectively adapt to our surroundings/environment

Question 7

What is good quality care?

Answer 7

It’s all about quality not quantity of care, so mothers are responsive to their child’s needs

Question 8

What is the internal working model?

Answer 8

Your first attachment forms a template for your adult relationships in the future
- It can also relate to a persons expectations of a relationship

Question 9

What is the critical period?

Answer 9

A biologically determined period of time where characteristics can develop, outside of this window such development can’t be possible.
- Babies must form an attachment within the first 2.5 years otherwise they would be damaged socially, emotionally and intellectually

Question 10

What happens in the internal working model?

Answer 10

• The infant forms a mental representation of their primary attachment relationship
• This allows insight into the caregivers behaviour so that they can influence (forming a true partnership)
• The IWM forms a template for future relationships
• The IWM is the template (for the present) - this leads to the continuity hypothesis (for the future)

Question 11

What is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 11

• Strong attachments in infancy ————> socially and emotionally competent later
• Weak attachments in infancy ————> social and emotional difficulties later