ATTACHMENT 3: Explanations - Monotropic Theory

Question 1

● According to Bowlby, is attachment innate or learned?

Answer 1

Innate.

Question 2

● What term describes signals like smiling and crying?

Answer 2

Social releasers.

Question 3

● What is the function of social releasers?

Answer 3

Trigger caregiver response to ensure interaction.

Question 4

● What does ASCMI stand for in Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 4

Adaptive, Social releasers, Critical period, Monotropy, Internal working model.

Question 5

● Why is attachment adaptive?

Answer 5

It increases survival.

Question 6

● What is the critical period proposed by Bowlby?

Answer 6

First 2.5 years of life.

Question 7

● What happens if no attachment forms in the critical period?

Answer 7

It may not take place at all.

Question 8

● What is monotropy?

Answer 8

The emphasis on a child’s attachment to one caregiver.

Question 9

● Who did Bowlby say the monotropy figure usually was?

Answer 9

The mother (but not necessarily biological).

Question 10

● What principle suggests consistent care improves attachment quality?

Answer 10

Law of continuity.

Question 11

● What principle states time apart risks poor attachment?

Answer 11

Law of accumulated separation.

Question 12

● What is the internal working model?

Answer 12

A mental representation of the relationship with primary caregiver.

Question 13

● What does the internal working model act as?

Answer 13

A template for future relationships.

Question 14

● What impact does the internal working model have?

Answer 14

Powerful impact on future relationships.

Question 15

● According to Bowlby, how are internal working models passed on?

Answer 15

From one generation to the next.

Question 16

● A child with a loving caregiver will have what attachment?

Answer 16

Secure attachment.

Question 17

● A secure attachment leads to what type of future relationships?

Answer 17

Loving and successful.

Question 18

● A child with an unresponsive caregiver is likely to develop what attachment?

Answer 18

Insecure attachment.

Question 19

● What kind of internal working model does insecure attachment form?

Answer 19

Negative internal working model.

Question 20

● What future effect does a negative internal working model have?

Answer 20

Poor relationships.

Question 21

▲ A child is neglected in the first 2 years. What concept predicts attachment may not form?

Answer 21

Critical period.

Question 22

▲ A child raised with responsive care develops secure adult relationships. Which concept explains this?

Answer 22

Internal working model.

Question 23

▲ A child whose mother is consistent and predictable supports which law?

Answer 23

Law of continuity.

Question 24

▲ A child with long periods away from mother develops poor attachment. Which law explains this?

Answer 24

Law of accumulated separation.

Question 25

▲ A parent who was securely attached as a child is likely to raise their child securely. Which concept explains this?

Answer 25

Internal working model passed through generations.

Question 26

▲ A baby cries and the caregiver responds immediately. Which concept does this show?

Answer 26

Social releasers.

Question 27

▲ A child adopted after 3 years struggles to bond. Which concept explains this?

Answer 27

Missed critical period.

Question 28

▲ A mother is unresponsive, child feels unworthy, and later has poor relationships. Which concept explains this?

Answer 28

Negative internal working model.

Question 29

▲ A secure infant grows into an adult with a trusting romantic relationship. Which theory explains this?

Answer 29

Bowlby’s internal working model.

Question 30

▲ A baby forms one attachment first before others. Which concept does this support?

Answer 30

Monotropy.

Question 31

▲ A child’s mother is not biological, but is main caregiver. Which idea supports this attachment?

Answer 31

Monotropy figure need not be biological mother.

Question 32

✪ How does Lorenz’s research support Bowlby’s concept of a critical period?

Answer 32

He found goslings imprint within 12–17 hours or not at all.

Question 33

✪ Why might Lorenz’s findings be limited as support for Bowlby?

Answer 33

Conducted on geese, humans are more complex.

Question 34

✪ How does Hazan and Shaver’s love quiz support the internal working model?

Answer 34

Securely attached children had happy long-lasting relationships as adults.

Question 35

✪ What limitation of Hazan and Shaver’s study reduces validity?

Answer 35

Used questionnaires so participants may lie (social desirability).

Question 36

✪ How do Schaffer and Emerson’s findings contradict monotropy?

Answer 36

They found evidence of multiple attachments.

Question 37

✪ How do multiple attachments challenge Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 37

Suggests more than one attachment can form early.

Question 38

✪ How could Schaffer and Emerson’s findings also partially support Bowlby?

Answer 38

They found infants often form a specific attachment first.

Question 39

✪ Why does the existence of learning theory reduce validity of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 39

It offers an alternative explanation of attachment based on conditioning.

Question 40

✪ How does learning theory differ from Bowlby’s?

Answer 40

Attachment is learned through association not innate.

Question 41

✪ Why might Bowlby’s theory be criticised as incomplete?

Answer 41

It over-emphasises early experiences and ignores alternative explanations.

Question 42

✪ Why is Bowlby’s theory criticised for determinism?

Answer 42

It assumes early attachment fully controls later outcomes.

Question 43

✪ How might Bowlby’s theory be socially sensitive?

Answer 43

It suggests mothers are blamed for later relationship failures.

Question 44

✪ How does research support increase the validity of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 44

It shows evidence for concepts like critical period and internal working model.