Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

• What is Bowlby’s evolutionary explanation?

  Attachment is an innate system that gives a survival advantage. Attachment evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe by ensuring they stay close to adult caregivers.
• How is Bowlby’s theory monotropic?

  He placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver and he believed that this attachment is unique and more important/stronger.
• What are social releasers?

  Bowlby suggested that babies are born with a set of innate behaviours such as cooing, smiling and gripping that encourage attention from adults.
• What is the critical period?

  Bowlby proposed that there is a critical period of around 2 and a half years. If an attachment is not formed or is broken, there can be severe effects on social and emotional development.
• What is the Internal Working Model?

  Bowlby proposed the idea that a child‘s first attachment forms a template which they use to form expectations for their future relationships.
• What is the law of continuity?


  The more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment.
• What is the law of accumulated separation?

  The effects of every separation from the mother add up.