bowlby's monotrophic theory

• What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory primarily about?

  Attachment to one primary caregiver
• What are the important concepts in Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

  • Monotropy
  • Social releasers
  • Internal working model
  • Law of continuity
  • Law of accumulated separation
• What are social releasers according to Bowlby?

  Innate behaviors that encourage adult attention
• What is the critical period in Bowlby’s theory?

  Time when attachment must form, around 2 years
• What does the internal working model represent?

  Mental representation of attachment relationships
• What did Schaffer and Emerson find about primary attachments?

  Babies formed primary attachment first
• What does the law of continuity state?

  Consistent care improves attachment quality
• What is the law of accumulated separation?

  Every separation negatively impacts attachment
• How does Bowlby’s theory relate to the implications for mothers?

  It influences mothers' lifestyle choices regarding work
• What did Brazleton et al. (1975) find about social releasers?

  Babies showed distress when social releasers ignored
• What did Bailey et al. (2007) study reveal about attachment types?

  Attachment types are passed through generations
• What criticism did Kagan (1982) present against Bowlby’s theory?

  It ignores temperament and personality differences
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

  Strengths:

  • Plausible and scientific basis
  • Reinforcers clearly delineated

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Reductionist and simplistic
  • Environmentally deterministic
  • Based on animal research
• How does learning theory explain Max's attachment to his mother?

  Attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning
• What is the role of food in classical conditioning for attachment?

  Food is an unconditioned stimulus that produces pleasure
• How does Bowlby’s theory contrast with learning theory?

  Learning theory focuses on reinforcement, Bowlby on attachment
• What mnemonic can help remember key aspects of Bowlby’s theory?

  • A: Adaptive (aids survival)
  • S: Social releasers (e.g., smiling)
  • C: Critical period (about 2 years)
  • M: Monotropy (one most important)
  • I: Internal working model (for future relationships)
• What is the significance of the law of accumulated separation?

  Long separations can disadvantage a child
• What is the implication of Bowlby’s theory for daycare use?

  It may discourage mothers from returning to work
• How does the internal working model affect future relationships?

  Shapes expectations based on early attachment experiences
• What did Schaffer and Emerson (1964) find about multiple attachments?

  27% of babies formed joint attachments
• What is the relationship between attachment and parenting according to Bowlby?

  Attachment types influence parenting styles
• How does Bowlby’s theory address the role of social releasers?

  They activate the adult's attachment system