bowlby monotropic theory

• bowlby suggests that attachment is an innate process, serving as an important adaptive function
• innate 


  • 'born with'
  • a trait that is genetically programmed
• evolution 


  • change in the inherited characteristic of an organism over time
  • adaptive characteristics increase chances of survival, and will be passed onto next generatio (by natural or sexual selection)
• why is attachment good for survival?

  • keeping the baby close to the caregiver - safety and protection, allowing the child to explore and learn with safe context
  • develop loving and reciprocal relationship to pass onto next generation
• • attachment between infant and caregiver is a behaviour pattern rooted in biology and evolution
  • attachment behaviour is programme into human beings and is found to operate similarly in almost all cultures
• attachment is universal across all cultures, therefore must be genetic
• attachment is innate
• bowlbys monotropic theory

  • infants form one main attachment (monotropy) which provides an internal working model (template of expectations) for future attachments
  • infants need to attach working a critical period (before the age of 2.5yrs) or there may be lasting negative consequences
• monotropy 


  • one particular attachment which is different form all others and of central importance to a child's development
  • law of accumulated separation (1975) → each time a mother and baby are separated, the time appart adds up and effects the baby more and more. this means the best dose is zero, and therefore a mother should not leave their baby
• social releaser


  • set of innate (cute) behaviours such as smiling, cooing, griping from babies that encourage adult attention
  • behaviours that illicit care
• social releasers activate adult social interaction and make the adult attach to baby. bowlby recognised that attachment is a reciprocal process
• critical period


  time is within which an attachment must form (2.5yrs)
• internal working model 


  child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure
• internal working model simple


  a model for how child perceives what relationships are like
• internal working model 


  • those that experience loving relationships, bring those qualities to future relationships
  • poor treatment → poor future relationships, where they expect such treatment from others and treat them the same
  • affects child's ability to be a parent
• ACES MISI (but swap critical period and innate)

  para 1:

  Adaptive

  Critical period

  Evolutionary theory

  Survival

  para2:

  Monotropy

  Internal working model

  Social releasers

  Innate