Bowlby's Monotrophic Theory

• (AO1) Define Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

  Bowlby's monotropic theory takes an evolutionary perspective.

  
  

  He argued that children are born with an innate tendency to form attachments with their parents in order to increase chances of survival.
• (AO1) State the 5 key terms from Bowlby's theory using an acronym 


  ASCMI

  
  

  Adaptive

  Social Releasers

  Critical Period

  Monotrophy

  Internal Working Model
• (AO1) Define adaptive

  Attachments are adaptive = they give humans an advantage, making them more likely to survive.

  If an infant has an attachment, they are kept safe, given food and kept warm by their caregiver.
• (AO1) Define social releasers

  Infants posses social releasers = unlocks an innate tendency in adults (in particular mothers) to care for them.

  Social releasers are:

  • Physical = the typical 'baby face' features that make babies appear cute e.g. big eyes, button nose
  • Behavioural = crying, cooing, smiling to get attention
• (AO1) Define critical period

  Infants must form an attachment with their caregiver during the critical period = between 3 - 6 months.

  
  

  However, Bowlby later acknowledged that infants could form an attachment after this period (up to 3 years).

  
  

  He stated that the formation of an attachment would be increasingly difficult after this initial period.

  
  

  He also stated that if an attachment did not form during this time period, the child would be damaged for life - socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically.
• (AO1) Define monotrophy

  Bowlby believed that infants form 1 very special attachment with their primary caregiver, most frequently the mother.

  
  

  This special, intense attachment is called monotrophy.

  
  

  If the mother is not available, the infant can bond with another present adult, known as a mother substitute.
• (AO1) Define internal working model

  Through the monotrophic attachment, the infant would form an internal working model.

  
  

  This = an internal template for future relationship expectations

  
  

  Strong/healthy attachment with primary attachment figure = strong/healthy relationship later in life.

  
  

  Negative relationship with primary attachment figure = will have negative social/romantic relationships in their later life.
• (AO3) Give a strength of Bowlby's theory

  Point: Bowlby's theory comes from research by Lorenz

  
  

  Evidence: Lorenz found that baby geese followed first moving object they saw, during a 12-17 hour critical period. This imprinting process seems innate (as they would have no time to learn the behaviour).

  
  

  Evaluate: Therefore Lorenz's research supports Bowlby idea of a critical period & demonstrates that geese are born with behaviourists which help them survive.
• (AO3) Give a challenge point to how Bowlby's theory comes from research by Lorenz - critical period

  CHALLENGE POINT: However, developmental psychologists prefer using the term sensitive period as attachments have been shown to develop beyond the pre-thought window.
• (AO3) Give a strength of Bowlby's theory

  Point: The theory comes from research by Hazan & Shaver (1987)

  
  

  Evidence: Used a self report questionnaire called 'The Love Quiz' to assess the internal working model. Found a positive correlation between early attachment types and later adult relationships.

  
  

  Evaluate: Supports Bowlby's idea of an internal working model & suggests that our early childhood experiences do effect our later adult relationships.
• (AO3) Give a limitation of Bowlby's theory

  Point: There is an alternative explanation for attachment.

  
  

  Evidence: Kagen (1984) proposed the temperament hypothesis = suggests that a child's genetically inherited personality traits affect formation of attachments with caregiver. Infants having different temperaments because of biological makeup = means some more sociable & 'easy' while others anxious and 'difficult' babies. - Can become securely/insecurely attached.

  
  

  Evaluate: Bowlby ignored the role of temperament, preferring to focus on early attachment experiences & quality of attachment.