Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

• Bowlby believed that strong infant-caregiver attachments are cenral to our ability to go on and function as healthy adults.
• Monotropy- very special bond with the primary caregiver that is the most sensitive and important
• Innate- Children are born with the need to form attachments to a caregiver. Adults have the innate drive to care.
• Social-Releasers - Characteristics babies are born with to help them survive. e.g. cute smiles and giggles
• Critical Period - You need to form attachments before age 2 or you will have a dysfunctional internal working model
• Internal Working Model - Your template for what attachment relationships should be like. Based on how they have been so far
• Adaptive - Forming attachments helps us to survive and so we say they are adaptiv
• Strengths of Bowlbys Monotropic Theory:

  • Research evidence from the Efi Tribe showed that despite being breast fed by multiple women, babies still seek out primary caregiver.
  • Evidence from 'Love Quiz' shows that the attachment behaviours adults display in relationships appears to mirror the attachment behaviour infants display.
• Limitation of Bowlbys Monotropic Theory:

  • According to Bowlbys theory, infantswho do not form a primary attachement before the age of 2 will have a dysfunctional internal working model. The Romanian Orphans study challenges this belief as many of the orphans were able to form healthy attachments in later life.