Bowlby’s monotropic theory

• What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment focused on?

  Evolutionary advantages of forming attachments
• What does Bowlby believe about the tendency to form attachments?

  It is an intrinsic and innate tendency
• How many elements of attachment did Bowlby identify?

  Five elements/components/features
• What is the purpose of attachment according to Bowlby?

  To increase chances of survival
• What does proximity-seeking behavior provide according to Bowlby?

  Food, shelter, water, and protection
• What are social releasers in the context of attachment?

  Behaviors that elicit caregiving responses
• Why are social releasers considered innate?

  They help capture caregiver attention
• What is the term for forming one special bond during the critical period?

  Monotropy
• What is the primary attachment typically formed with?

  Infant's biological mother
• What does the internal working model represent?

  A mental representation of future attachments
• What does the continuity hypothesis propose?

  Early relationships influence later relationships
• What is a strength of Bowlby's theory regarding the continuity hypothesis?

  Research supports the continuity hypothesis
• What practical application does Bowlby's theory have?

  Improves care for adopted children
• What evidence refutes Bowlby's critical period concept?

  Children adopted at older ages form attachments
• What did Kagan argue about attachment behavior?

  It is influenced by the child's temperament
• What did the Minnesota parent-child study find?

  Continuity between early attachment and later behavior
• What does Bowlby’s theory suggest about the role of the child's temperament?

  It is often overlooked in attachment formation
• How does Bowlby’s theory of attachment address the role of caregivers?

  Focuses on caregiver responsiveness to social releasers
• What is a limitation of Bowlby’s theory regarding monotropy?

  It underestimates multiple attachments in infants
• How does Bowlby’s theory relate to the real-world application for adopted children?

  It emphasizes early placement for strong attachments