Bowlby's theory

• Monotropic theory takes evolutionary perspective, argued children are born with innate tendency to form attachments to increase chances of survival.

  5 key terms remembered with the following mnemonic- A Snap Chat Makes Images
• The 5 key terms involved in Bowlby's theory of attachment include Adaptive, Social Releasers, Critical Period, Monotropy, Internal Working Model
• Attachments are adaptive as they give humans an advantage, more likely survival. Infant has attachment: kept safe, given food and kept warm.
• Infants possess social releasers, unlock innate tendencys in adults to care for them. These are 'physical' (baby face features make babies cute) and 'behavioural' (crying, cooing and smiling to get attention.)
• Infants must form attachment in critical period (3-6 months of age). Later was discovered they can form attachment up to 3 years. Successful formation would be increasingly difficult after this initial period. If not formed, child would be damaged socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically for life.
• Bowlby believed infants form one special attachment with primary caregiver (normally mother), This bond is called monotropy.
• Through monotropic attachment, infant would form internal working model. Internal template for future relationship expectations. If child has strong and healthy attachment to primary attachment figure, they will develop strong healthy relationships later in life. If child has negative relationship with primary caregiver they will have negative social and romantic relationships