bowlbys monotropic theory

• what is the evolutionary explanation of attachment?

  • attachment is an innate system giving survival advantage
• montropy meaning?


  emphasis of attachment to primary attachment figure
• what are the two main reasons for spending more time with primary caregiver to improve attachment?

  • law of continuity = more constant childcare better quality of attachment
  • law of accmulated of separation = effects of separation add up
• Why are babies born with social releasers?

  activate social interaction with adult, attachment in reciprocal
• What is the critical period of attachment?

  • infant attachment system is active and sensitive between 6 months and 2 years
  • attachment not formed between this period = a lot harder to form attachment
• first attachment forms internal working model of relationships:

  • mental representation of relationship with primary attachment figure acts as a template for what relationships are like
  • may also affect later ability to become a parent
• Evaluation:

  • support for social releasers = Brazelton 1975
  • support for IWM = bailey 2007
  • lacks validity
• Evidence for social releasers = Brazelton:

  • instructed primary attachment figures to ignore social releasers
  • babies showed distressed and then became motionless
  • social releasers play important role in attachment
• Strength for internal working model - Bailey

  • internal working models can predict patterns of attachment and will be passed on from one generation to the next
  • study of 99 mothers, those with poor attachment with own parents were more likely to have children poorly attachment
  • passed through families
  • but their other influences on social development such as genetic influenced personality which is important in development of social behaviour
  • bowlby overemphasised importance of the internal working model
• monotropy lacks validity:

  • relationship with primary caregiver may be stronger than others rather than different in quality
  • other family members can develop attachments with babies with the same qualities e.g comfort
  • Bowlby wrong to suggest unique quality to child primary attachment
• concept of monotropy is socially sensitive - places pressure on mothers to form sensitive and loving attachments with child other wise negative long term effects occur and underestimates role of the father