Bowlby's monotropic theory

• Bowlby rejected the learning theory as an explanation for attachment.
• Bowlby took inspiration from Lorenz and Harlow and proposed an evolutionary explanation.
• Bowlby suggested that attachment was an innate system that gave the babies a survival advantage.
• What are the three AO1 points you need to make about Bowlby's monotropic theory?" "Idea of monotropy and principles. Social releasers and the critical period. Internal working model. "
• Why is Bowlby's theory considered monotropic? "The great emphasis he placed on a child's attachment to one specific caregiver. Believed that this attachment was different and more important than any others. "
• What did Bowlby believe about the attachment with the primary caregiver? "That it is different and more imporant than any other attachment."
• Bowlby believed that the more time a baby spent with its primary attachment figure the better.
• What is the law of continuity? "That the more constant and predictable a child's care the better the attachment quality. "
• What is the law of accumulated separation? "That the effects of everyday separation from the mother-figure add up. He stated that the 'safest dose is zero'. "
• State some examples of social releasers.  Smiling cooing and gripping fingers.
• What did Bowlby suggest is the purpose of social releasers? "To activate the adult attachment system making them feel love towards the baby. "
• Why did Bowlby consider attachment to be a reciprocal process?  "Both the mother-figure and baby have an innate predisposition to become attached social releasers just trigger this response in the caregiver. "
• The interplay between adult and infant attachment systems gradually builds the relationship between them.
• Bowlby proposed a critical period of around 2 years when the infant attachment system is active.
• Bowlby proposed a critical period of around [...] when the infant attachment system is active. " "Bowlby proposed a critical period of around 2 years when the infant attachment system is active.
• Why did Bowlby view it as a sensitive period not a critical period?" "A child is maximally sensitive to forming attachments at age two. However if one is not formed by this time it doesn't mean it never will the child will just find it much harder to form an attachment later. "
• What is an internal working model? "The mental representation we have of our attachment to and relationship with our primary caregiver. "
• Why do internal working models have such an effect on a child's future relationships? "Serves as a model for what relationships are like and what to expect from them in the future. "
• What two things do internal working models have a powerful effect on? "The nature of a child's future relationships. The child's later ability to parent themselves. "
• Why do internal working models affect a child's later ability to parent? "People tend to base their parenting behaviours on their own experience of being parented. "
• State the evaluation points for Bowlby's monotropic theory.

  • Mixed evidence for the idea of monotropy.
  • Supporting evidence for role of social releasers. 
  • Supporting evidence for internal working models. 
  • Monotropy is socially sensitive. 
• Why is there said to be mixed evidence for Bowlby's theories of monotropy?

  • Bowlby believed that babies form one special attachment to their primary caregiver that is unique - only after can multiple attachments form. 
  • Schaffer and Emerson found that while most babies attached to one person first, a minority could form multiple attachments at the same time. 
  • Unclear if first attachment is actually unique. Suess et al. found that the infant-mother attachment is the most important in predicting later behaviour. 
  • But this might just mean it is a stronger attachment not different in quality. 
• What supporting evidence is there for the role of social releasers? "- Clear evidence that social releasers are intended to initiate social interaction - and that this important to the baby. - Brazelton et al. observed interactional synchrony in mothers and babies. - Experimented further instructed primary caregivers to ignore babies' signals. - Babies showed distress initially but eventually responded by curling up and lying motionless. - The strength of the reactions supports Bowlby's ideas about the significance of social releasers in eliciting caregiving. "
• What supporting evidence is there for internal working models? "- IWMs are testable as they predict intergenerational patterns of attachment. - Bailey et al. assessed 99 mothers with one-year old babies. - Assessed their attachment to their own mothers (standard interview) and to their babies (observation). - Mothers who reported having poor attachments to their own parents were more likely to have poor quality attachments with their children. - This supports Bowlby's theory that the IWM influences parenting behaviours."
• Monotropy is considered a socially sensitive idea, explain why.

  • Monotropy as major implications on lifestyle choices of mothers with young children. 
  • Law of accumulated separation says that substantial time apart from primary attachment figures risks poor quality attachment and negatively impacts the child later in life.  
  • Feminists have highlighted the burden of responsibility this places on mothers. 
  • Pushes mothers to make significant lifestyle choices like not go back to work or pursue higher education. 
• Bowlby identified a critical period for attachment development. True/False? "False he identified a sensitive period. "
• What is the difference between a sensitive and critical period? "An attachment must form during a critical period - it won't after this period. Whereas an attachment is easier to form in a sensitive period - if one doesn't it can still happen but just with more difficulty."
• There is evidence for social releasers.
• There is said to be mixed evidence for Bowlby's monotropic theory.
• Bowlby's monotropic theory is considered socially sensitive.
• Two laws proposed by Bowlby to emphasise importance of mother spending time with their children.

  • Law of accumulated separation
  • Law of continuity