BOWLBLY MONOTROPIC THEORY

• bowlby theory - innate

  • evolutionary explanation for attachment
  • survival advantages
• bowlby theory - monotropy

  • great emphasis on attachments to one particular caregiver
  • this attachment is more important
  • infants form this attachment with the one who cares for them the most, and spends most amount of time with them
• bowlby theory - social releasers

  • babies born with innate characteristics
  • their purpose is to activate the adult attachment system
  • (crying, smiling, gripping)
• bowlby theory - critical period

  • age of 2
  • later referred to it as the sensitive period
  • once window had passed, a child will find it a lot harder to make the attachments
• bowlby theory - internal working model

  • child forming mental representations of their relationships with the primary caregiver
  • if child first experienced a loving relationship, then they will bring these attributes to future relationships and expect these interactions back
  • can also influence parental behaviour
• 1. Bowlby's theory is supported from evidence from

  • a longitudinal study
  • conducted by Sroufe
  • individuals who were classified as securely attached as infants were empathetic, socially competent and popular
  • more than those who weren't securely attached
• 2. (Bowlby theory supported from evidence) this evidence supports Bowlby's idea

  • that infants form an internal working model of their relationships
  • this influences future nature of relationships when older
• 3. (Bowlby theory supported from evidence) this is because

  • infants who had a secure attachment would have more positive expectations of relationships
  • this influences interactions with peers in teenage years and later in adulthood
• 4. (Bowlby theory supported from evidence) furthermore, ideas that later parenting is influenced by the IWM

  • is supported by evidence from
  • Bailey et al
  • mothers who reported having a poor attachment to their parents
  • when interviewed
  • were more likely to have a poor attachment to their children
• 5. (Bowlby theory supported from evidence) therefore,

  • it can be argued that
  • the quality of attachments that an infant has with their pcg
  • plays a significant role in their later social lives
  • due to the development of the IWM
• 1. a limit of Bowlby's theory is that the idea of attachment is determined by carer sensitivity is opposed by

  • Kagan
  • said that the strength of the attachments is due to the infant's innate temperament
  • believed that infants with easy temperaments develop stronger attachments as it is easier for the caregiver to interact with them
• 2. (limit is due to kagan) this alternate explanation is supported by evidence from

  • Belsky and Rovine
  • infants between 1-3 days old who have difficult temperaments
  • had a weaker attachment to their pcg
• 3. (limit is due to kagan) therefore it can be argued that

  • it is the interaction between mothers sensitivity and infants temperament
  • determining the strength of the attachment
  • mothers responsiveness to infant is influenced by her perception of infants temperaments
• 1. a limit of bowlby theory is the idea of monotropy is opposed by

  • Schaffer and Emerson
  • half of the 18 month infants were more strongly attached to their mothers
  • a third were more strongly attached to their father
  • rest was attached to both parents
• 2. (limit of bowlby - monotropy) this evidence undermines bowlby's theory

  • as it suggests that the attachment formed with the mother is not separate or unique
  • however - could be argued that other attachments depend on initial attachment with mother
• 3. (limit of bowlby - monotropy) on the other hand

  • research from Seuss et al
  • shows that attachments to the mother is more important in predicting later behaviour
• 4. (limit of bowlby - monotropy) therefore arguing that

  • infants are capable of forming multiple attachments
  • but vary in intensity
  • extent of attachments depend on maturity of infant
  • as well as how sensitively their needs are responded to
• 1. a further limit of Bowlby's theory is that is considered to be controversial 


  • it has major consequences for the lifestyle choice of the mother
  • the law of accumulated separation states that too much time apart could have negative impacts on children
• 2. (limit of bowlbly - controversial) for example feminists

  • like Burman
  • pointed out that it places huge stress and pressure on mothers
  • sets them up to take the blame if something goes wrong later in life with the child
• 3. (limit of bowlby - controversial) in addition, theory also has implication for working mothers

  • as it pushes mothers into a particular lifestyle
• 4. (limit of bowlby - controversial ) therefore it can be argued that..

  • it can influence mother's choices with their lifestyle and choices
  • potentially creating social pressure surrounding having children