Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

• Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

  - he rejected the learning theory as he thought it was too simplistic

  - proposed that attachment is an innate system that gives us a survival advantage —> evolutionary theory
• How is attachment similar to imprinting?

  It evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe by ensuring they stay close to caregivers
• Monotropic


  Children form an attachment to one caregiver
• Who did Bowlby's believe we form the strongest attachment to?

  The person who spends most time with us
• 2 principles put forward by Bowlby

  - law of continuity - the more constant and predictable childcare, the better quality of attachment

  - law of accumulated separation - the effects of every separation from the mother add up —> 'the safest dose is zero
• Bowlby recognised that attachment was a ______ process

  Reciprocal
• Critical period of attachment

  Occurs at around 6 months old - if an attachment isn't formed at this time, it will be much harder to form one later in life
• Social releasers

  Innate, 'cute' behaviours such as gripping
• Internal working model

  Mental representations that children form of their relationship with their primary attachment figure. It serves as a model for what relationships are like.
• What does a child's internal working model affect?

  Their future relationships and abilities to be a parent themselves
• 2 positive evaluations of Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

  - offers support for internal working model: Bailey et al found that mothers with poor attachments in childhood are more likely to have poorly attached babies

  - supporting evidence for role of social releasers: Brazelton found that when primary attachment figures ignored their babies' social releasers, the baby would become distressed, eventually curling up and laying motionless
• Negative evaluation of Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

  Lacks validity: Schaffer and Emerson found that children form multiple attachments, and just because the first one is stronger, it doesn't mean the others aren't as good in quality