Bowlby's Theory

• Bowlby's monotropic Theory - evolutionary explanation
• Bowlby's monotropic theory

  1. monotropy
  2. law of continuity
  3. law of accumulated seperation
  4. social releasers
  5. sensitive period
  6. internal working model
• Monotrophy - a child's attachment to one particular caregiver is different and more important than others
• Law of Continuity

  • the more constant/predictable a child's care is, the better quality of attachment
• Law of Accumulated seperation

  • effects of every seperation add up
• Social releasers

  • set out innate 'cute' behaviours babies use to encourage attention from adults
• Sensitive period

  • when a child is maximally sensitive to attachment at around 2 (similar to critical period)
• Internal working model

  • child forms internal mental representation of relationships based off their primary caregiver
• (BMt) + Continuity hypothesis

  • Minnesota parent-child study found a link between early attachment and late social behaviour (internal working model effects)
• (BMt) + Support for social releasers

  • evidence that cute baby behaviours are intended to initate social interaction as they are stopped when no attention is given
• (BMt) - Alternative explanation

  • Kagan - temperament hypothesis, an infant's innate personality may explain attachment behaviour