Bowlby's Monotropic Theory

• What are the two theories of attachment?

  1. Evolutionary theory
  2. Learning theory
• Summerise the evolutionary theory

  • The tendency to form attachments is innate
  • The tendency is present in both infants and mothers
• Summerise the learning theory

  • Infants have no innate tendency to form attachments
  • Infants learn attachments because of food.
• Explain the process of evolutionary theory


  Evolutionary Theory is the process whereby useful features are introduced into a species. Features are useful if they help the animal survive long enough to successfully reproduce. In order to survive and reproduce animals need to be well adapted to their environment.
• What are the AO1 points of Bowlbys monotropic theory

  • Monotropic
  • Adaptive attachments
  • Social releasers
  • Critical period
  • Internal working model
  • Continuity hypothesis
• What is the anagram to recall Bowlbys monotropic theory?

  MASCIC
• Explain Monotropic attachments

  • Bowlby believed that infants form one special attachment to their mother.
  • It is intense, and if the mother isn't present a bond could form with a mother-substitute.
• Explain Bowlby's adaptive attachments

  • An adaptive attachment makes us more likely to survive as we are kept warm, safe and fed.
• Explain Bowlby's social releasers

  • Unlocks the innate tendency for care from adults
  • Physical features (big eyes and cubby cheeks) and Behavioural characteristics (crying) enables us to care for infants
• Explain Bowlby's critical period

  • The critical attachment period is 2 years
  • If attachments do not happen in this period, the child will be socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically damaged.
• Explain the Internal Working Model (Bowlby)

  • Mental schema for relationships
  • Future adult relationships are based on this
  • Affects the parent they will be
• Explain the continuity hypothesis

  • Relates to the Internal working model (IWM)
  • Whatever attachment type we develop, continues into adulthood
• What are the three attachment types?

  • Secure - from a loving mother
  • Insecure resistant - from a inconsistant mother
  • Insecure avoidant - From a cold mother
• Explain the minnesota longitudinal

  • 267 mothers and their babies used to study effects of attachment
  • Infants were reviewed monthly, 6 - 12 months during childhood, 2 - 4 years during adulthood
  •  Babies are now 35 years old
  •  support for bowlby’s IWM
  •  Positive attachments lead to a more popular content and confident life
  •  Negative attachments lead to insecurities
• Explain Hazan + Shaver's Love Quiz

  • Placed a love quiz in a local paper
  • Negative attachments more likely to lead to divorce and not believing in love
  • Positive attachments more likely to be married and believe in everlasting love
  • Total support for the IWM and the effect of monotropy
• Explain Rutters Romanian orphan study

  • Children in an orphanage with minimal adult contact
  • When infants were adopted after two, they still developed strong attachments
  • However they did progress slower than children who were adopted before the age of one
  • Shows that the critical period should be replaced with the sensitive period.
• Explain the EFE tribe

  • The tribe in the Congo share the care of infants between women, taking chance to breastfeed
  • But babies still wish to return to their birth mothers at night
  • Supports the idea of monotropy and complex relationships 
• Explain the Fox's study (Kibbutz)

  • Infants in israel are cared for by a nurse during the day while their mothers are at work, returning in the evening.
  • Infants forms draw attachments although their mothers were not around
  • Disagreeing with Bowlby’s Theory
• Explain the implications of Bowlby's theory - changes in law

  • Bowlby’s  work has LED directly to mortality leave being extended in the UK - up to nine months paid. 
  •  giving mothers the opportunity to bond with their children
• Explain the ethics of Bowlby's expriement - Dads

  • Socially sensitive to Dads
  •  says dads are not important
  •  stigmatises single and gay dads
• Explain the ethics of Bowlby's experiment - pressure on mums

  Places a huge pressure on mothers ( particularly working Moms) who are health responsible for their child's future and mental health.