Monotropic Theory

• Bowlby's Monotropic Theory suggests that attachment is important for a child's survival and that infants are biologically programmed with innate behaviors for attachment
• Bowlby's theory includes the concept of monotropy, critical period for attachment development, and internal working model influencing later relationships
• Konrad Lorenz's work supports Bowlby's monotropic theory through the attachment process of imprinting and the critical period
• A secure child will develop a positive internal working model of itself because it has received sensitive, emotional care from its primary attachment figure
• An insecure-avoidant child will develop an internal working model in which it sees itself as unworthy because its primary attachment figure has reacted negatively to it during the sensitive period for attachment formation
• Influence of Early Attachment on Childhood and Adult Relationships:

  • Bowlby's continuity hypothesis suggests consistency between early emotional experiences and later relationships
  • Internal working model influences expectations in relationships
  • Childhood relationships:
  • Secure attachment style leads to more confidence in interactions with friends
  • Securely attached children rated most highly for social competence later in childhood
  • Insecurely attached children tend to rely more on teachers for interaction and emotional support
  • Adult relationships:
• Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment suggests that children are biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others to help them survive
• A child forms many attachments, but one of these is qualitatively different, known as primary attachment or monotropy
• There is a critical period for developing attachment, around 2.5 years, and a sensitive period of up to 5 years
• An internal working model is a cognitive framework based on the relationship with a primary caregiver, influencing future social relationships
• Attachment behaviors are instinctive and activated by conditions threatening proximity, such as separation, insecurity, and fear
• Fear of strangers is an important survival mechanism, according to Bowlby
• Infants display innate behaviors to ensure proximity and contact with the mother or attachment figure, such as crying, smiling, and crawling
• Attachment is determined by care and responsiveness, not food
• Babies have an innate need to attach to one main figure, according to Bowlby's monotropic theory
• Primary attachment is usually to the mother, with other attachments developing in a hierarchy below
• Relationship with the mother is qualitatively different from other relationships, leading to specific behaviors to elicit contact or proximity
• Continuous care from the primary attachment figure is crucial for the first two years of life, with a critical period for attachment development
• Bowlby's study may have been influenced by researcher bias, as he conducted assessments and made diagnoses himself, potentially affecting the validity of the results
• Short-term separation from an attachment figure leads to distress, with three progressive stages of distress: Protest, Despair, and Detachment
• Protest stage: The child cries, screams, and protests angrily when the parent leaves, trying to cling to them to stop them from leaving
• Despair stage: The child's protesting gradually stops, appearing calmer but still upset, refusing comfort and becoming withdrawn and hopeless
• Detachment stage: The child engages with others again, suppressing emotions and living moment-to-moment by repressing feelings for their mother
• Bowlby believed that the despair phase in children showed harm rather than adjustment when separated from attachment figures
• The child's attachment relationship with their primary caregiver leads to the development of an internal working model, a cognitive framework comprising mental representations for understanding the world, self, and others
• The internal working model guides future social and emotional behavior, influencing and evaluating the child's contact with others based on their attachment style
• The internal working model includes a model of others as trustworthy, a model of the self as valuable, and a model of the self as effective when interacting with others
• Early experiences with attachment figures shape internal working models, which guide perceptions of the social world and future interactions with others
• Bowlby suggested that the first five years of life were crucial to developing the internal working model, which becomes part of a child's personality and affects their future interactions with others
• Attachment can involve multiple attachments arranged in a hierarchy, with general attachment styles originating from early relationships during childhood and shaping perception and behavior in close relationships
• Support for Bowlby's maternal deprivation hypothesis comes from studies showing that loss of the mother through separation or death doubles the risk of depressive and anxiety disorders in adult women
• Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation study provides evidence for the existence of the internal working model, showing how attachment styles develop based on interactions with primary attachment figures
• Bowlby's ideas had a significant influence on attachment research, focusing on his belief in monotropy and the importance of early parent-child relationships
• Bowlby's theory of attachment focuses on monotropy, where he believes that the attachment to the mother is unique, being the first to appear and the strongest
• Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found that specific attachments start around eight months, with infants becoming attached to multiple people shortly after. By 18 months, very few infants (13%) were attached to only one person; some had five or more attachments.
• Bowlby's attachment theory has been criticized for being sexist, as it emphasizes mothers as ideal caregivers and neglects other influences like fathers
• Bowlby's academic writings acknowledge that various caregivers can serve as primary caregivers, not just biological mothers
• Bowlby's work implies that a mother should be the central caregiver and that continuous care is important, suggesting that mothers should not go out to work.

  However, Van Ijzendoorn and Tavecchio (1987) argue that a stable network of adults can provide adequate care for children, with potential advantages over a system where a mother is the sole caregiver.
• People basing their parenting style on their own internal working models result in intergenerational continuity.

  Adult relationships are likely to reflect early attachment styles.

  Childhood experiences significantly impact attitudes toward later relationships.
• Define the internal working model and explain its importance.

  An internal working model is the mental representation a child has of the relationship with their primary caregiver.

  Bowlby believes these have a powerful effect on future relationships as IWMs serve as models for other relationships. Children will later form relationships similar to their IWMs.