Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

• John Bowlby's monotropic theory


  Theory that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form an attachment, with emphasis on one primary caregiver
• John Bowlby rejects learning theory of attachment


  Because of evidence showing babies do not only attach to the person that feeds them
• Attachment behaviour

  • Increased our chances of survival chances (evolutionary explanation)
• Monotropic theory


  Emphasis on one primary caregiver, attachment to this caregiver is different and more important than later attachments
• The law of continuity


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


  The effects of every separation from the mother add up, and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose
• Social releasers


  Infants are born with cute behaviours (crying, smiling, cooing, gripping etc.) to stimulate care/loving behaviours from mother
• Attachment is a reciprocal process - both baby and mother are born to become attached, social triggers release attachment response
• If a child doesn't make a primary attachment by the age of 2 and a half, they will struggle to form any attachment in later life
• Internal working model


  The type of relationship the baby experiences with the mother, will assume/expect all relationships are like that (a mental representation or blueprint)
• Early attachment experiences of the child

  Will shape emotional relationships later in life (secure or insecure relationships)
• Positive attachments

  Will lead to further good relationships, and vice versa
• Early attachment experiences


  Affect the child's own ability to parent in later life
• Evidence supporting social releasers

  • T.Berry Brazelton et al (1975) found that the more a baby is ignored, the more distressed and less reactive they become, illustrating the role of social releasers in emotional development
• Criticism of monotrophy concept

  • Rudolph Schaffer and Peggy Emerson (1964) found that even if the first attachment seems significantly stronger, it does not differ in quality from the child's other attachments
• The idea of separation and continuity suggests working mothers can have a negative effect on babies' emotional development
• Feminists pointed out that mothers shouldn't be blamed for everything that happens to the child