5. Bowlby's theory on monotropy

• Monotropy - AO1

  Unique strong attachment to a single caregiver, usually the mother.
• Outline Bowlbys Monotropic Theory - AO1

  Evolutionary point of view says that babies have an innate attachment drive to survive and so he palaces an emphasis on the importance of one particular care giver (usually the mother).
• Critical (sensitive) period - AO1

  Bowlby suggested that for a strong attachment to take place it had to be within the first 2/3 years of an infant's life.
• Critical period importance - AO1


  If an attachment isn't formed within this time, then it will have long-lasting, negative and devastating physical, intellectual, social and emotional effects
• Internal working model - AO1

  the first strong attachment the child has with its mother provides a blueprint for future relationships It acts as a guide on how to conduct future relationships/ expectations they set for all relationships they form throughout life.
• Strength of attachment - AO1

  stronger attachments will form if care is consistent and weaker attachments will form if care is inconsistent
• Safe base behaviour - AO1

  infant with good attachments will use mum as a secure base to explore their environment but will show distress if mum disappears.
• Social releasers - AO1

  Babies use signals like crying, smiling and vocalisations that (they are born with) that attract care givers attention. Adults are biologically programmed to find these behaviours cute or distressing
• Point of social releasers - AO1

  they are focused on activating the caregiver's attachment and make them fall in love with the infant.
• Support for the internal working model - AO3

  - Bailey et al. (2007) - tested the idea that patterns of attachment were passed on from generations due to the internal working model

  - Used 99 mothers and their 1 year old infants measuring the mothers attachments to their own primary caregiver and how it differed or resembled the attachments they formed with their babies.

  - Found that mothers with poor attachments with their own primary care were more likely to have poorly attached babies.

  - This supports the idea that mothers ability to form attachments to their babies is influenced by their internal working model.
• Counterpoint to the internal working model evaluation - AO3

  - Bowlby may have ignored the influence of other factors that can impact our ability to parent and our social development.

  - Genetic differences in anxiety and social ability affect social behaviour in both babies and adults

  - This means that Bowlby may have overstated the importance of the internal working model in social behaviour and parenting as he didn't consider other factors.
• Mixed evidence for monotropy - AO3

  - Schaffer and Emmerson (1964) - found that babies although babies attach to one person first a significant minority are able to form multiple attachments.

  - Also, unclear whether there is something truly unique about that first attachment. It does seem to have an influence on later life but that could depend on the strength of the attachment rather than the quality

  - This means that Bowlby may be incorrect in the idea that there is a unique importance to the child's primary attachment.
• Support for social releasers - AO3

  - Brazelton et al. (1975) - observed babies tripper interactions with adults using social releasers.

  instructed primary care givers to ignore babies social releasers

  - Found previously responsive babies became increasingly distressed and some curled up and laid on the floor.

  - Illustrates the role of social releasers in emotional development and how they are important in the process of developing attachments