AO1 Bowlby

• What are the 4 elements of Bowlby's theory?

  Monotropy, critical period, social releasers, internal working model
• What is monotropy?


  Emphasis on a child's attachment to one particular caregiver. Bowlby believed that this attachment is different and unique and more important than others
• According to monotropy, the more time spent with the primary attachment figure the better
• What are the two principles linked to monotropy?

  The law of continuity and the law of accumulated separation
• What does the law of continuity state?


  The more constant and predictable a child's care, the better the quality of their attachment
• What does the law of accumulated separation state?


  The effects of every separation from the mother add up and the safest dose (of separation)is therefore zero
• What are social releasers?

  The innate set of 'cute' behaviours possessed by babies that activate the adult attachment system
• Bowlby recognised that attachment was a reciprocal process. Both the mother and the baby have an innate predisposition to become attached and social releasers trigger that response in caregivers
• What is the critical period in humans?


  2.5 years
• What is the sensitive period that was later proposed?


  5 years
• What does the internal working model suggest?

  The relationship with the primary caregiver serves as a model of what relationships are like. It therefore has a powerful effect on the nature of the child's future relationships
• Example of internal working mode

  A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to form an expectation that all relationships are as loving and reliable. They will bring these qualities to future relationships (and vice versa)
• Most importantly , the internal working model affects the child's later ability to be a parent themselves