AO1 - monotropic theory

• The internal working model is a intenal framework, proposed by bowlby, which was formed by a child's interaction with their primary caregiver that remain a understanding for furture relationships
• Social releasers – e.g. a cute face on a baby. These unlock the innate tendency for adults to care for a child because they activate the mammalian attachment system.
• Bowlby’s monotropic theory is an evolutionary explanation of attachment. It states that babies have an innate attachment drive in order to survive, as security results in survival. This is shown by the fact that babies will stay close to the caregiver (usually the mother) for safety
• Critical period – This is the time in which an attachment can form i.e. up to 2.5 to 3 years old. Bowlby suggested that if an attachment is not formed in this time, it never will. If an attachment does not form, you will be socially, emotionally, intellecturally and physically stunted.
• Critical period

  • Bowlby demonstrated this in his 44 juvenile thieves study, where maternal deprivation was associated with affectionless psychopathy and mental retardation.
• Monotropy – means ‘one carer’. Bowlby suggested that you can only form one special intense attachment (this is typically but not always with the mother). This attachment is unique, stronger and different to others
• Attachments are biologically pre programmed unto us from birth
• Attachments serve to protect from danger
• According to Bowlby’s monotropic theory, we can become biologically pre programme to need to form an attachment to our caregivers through the process of evolution.
• Social releasers are behaviours that babies perform to attract the attention of their caregivers