Attachment - Explanations: Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

The process whereby useful features are introduced into a species

Question 2

How can a feature be termed as useful?

Answer 2

If it helps the animal survive long enough to successfully reproduce

Question 3

What do animals need to be to survive and reproduce?

Answer 3

Well adapted to their environment

Question 4

What are useful features said to be?

Answer 4

Adaptive

Question 5

What does Bowlby believe attachment is?

Answer 5

A behaviour that has evolved because of its survival value

Question 6

How is attachment learnt according to Bowlby?

Answer 6

It isn’t learnt - it’s innate

Question 7

How does an attachment give us an adaptive advantage?

Answer 7

The innate tendency makes it more likely that we will survive as attachments provide us with food, comfort, protection and security

Question 8

What idea did Bowlby adopt?

Answer 8

Idea of a critical period

Question 9

Who did Bowlby observe?

Answer 9

Children and their families who were separated in the aftermath of WW2

Question 10

Where were Bowlby’s studies often conducted?

Answer 10

Institutions and hospitals

Question 11

Word to remember Bowlby’s research

Answer 11

MICIS

Question 12

MICIS

Answer 12

Monotropy
Internal working model
Critical period
Innate
Social releasers

Question 13

Monotropy

Answer 13

Infants form one very special and intense attachment with their mother

Question 14

If the mother isn’t available, who will the baby form a monotropic attachment with?

Answer 14

Another ever-present adult (mother substitute)

Question 15

Through the monotropic attachment, what will the infant form?

Answer 15

An internal working model

Question 16

What does an internal working model form?

Answer 16

A template for all future relationships

Question 17

What will all the child’s future relationships be based on?

Answer 17

Their internal working model

Question 18

What is carried throughout the infants life?

Answer 18

The style of attachment they have

Question 19

What must babies do during the critical period?

Answer 19

They must form an attachment with their caregiver during this period

Question 20

When is the critical period?

Answer 20

Between birth and 2.5 years old

Question 21

What does Bowlby believe about a child who doesn’t form an attachment during the critical period?

Answer 21

They will be damaged for life - socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically

Question 22

What are we born with?

Answer 22

The drive to attach

Question 23

Why do attachments give us an adaptive advantage?

Answer 23

Because an infant has an attachment to a caregiver resulting in them being kept warm, safe and fed

Question 24

What do social releasers do?

Answer 24

They unlock the innate tendency of adults to care for them

Question 25

How can social releasers be physical?

Answer 25

Typical baby face features

Question 26

How can social releasers be behavioural?

Answer 26

Through actions such as crying

Question 27

How does Lorenz’ research support Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

Answer 27

The attachment process of imprinting is an innate process which has a critical period

Question 28

Bailey’s method to support the internal working model

Answer 28

Bailey questioned 99 teenage mothers with 1 year old babies and observed their behaviour

Question 29

What did Bailey find in his research supporting the internal working model?

Answer 29

Mother who reported insecure attachments to their own parents were much more likely to have children whose behaviour implied insecure attachments

Question 30

How is this theory influential?

Answer 30

It has stimulated a great deal of research and many of Bowlby’s ideas have been linked to a variety of situations

Question 31

What did Schaffer and Emerson find that links to this theory?

Answer 31

They found that infants form multiple attachments (link to innate)

Question 32

Criticism of Bowlby’s research

Answer 32

He placed much emphasis on the role of the mother, but not the father