biological explanation of attachment: bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

what did bowlby propose

Answer 1

an evolutionary explanation where attachment was an innate system that gave survival advantage

Question 2

4 parts to bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 2

• monotropy
• internal working model
• critical period
• social releasers

Question 3

describe monotropy

Answer 3

• idea that a child forms attachment to 1 particular caregiver
  –> ‘mother’ - if not present, a bond with another ‘ever-present’ adult was okay
• proposed that the more time spent with primary attachment figure the better
• 2 principles to clarify:
  –> law of continuity
  –> law of accumulated separation

Question 4

explain the law of continuity (1/2)

Answer 4

• more constant/predictable a child’s care, the better quality their attachment
• strong attachment at infancy = socially/emotionally competent later

Question 5

explain the law of accumulated separation (2/2)

Answer 5

• effects of every separation from the mother add up
• ‘and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’ - bowlby 1975

Question 6

describe internal working model

Answer 6

• suggests children form a mental representation of their attachment with primary attachment figure = internal working model
  –> model of what relationships are like
• effects child’s later ability to parent selves as tend to base parenting behaviour on own experiences of being parented
• explains why children from functional families are likely to have functional families

Question 7

what concept in cognitive psychology is the internal working model based on

Answer 7

schema

Question 8

describe the critical period

Answer 8

• where babies/precocial animals form an attachment/imprint with caregiver in critical period
• bowlby suggested up to 2.5 years
• bowlby said if it didn’t occur, the child would be permanently damaged –> socially, emotionally, intellectually & physically

Question 9

describe social releasers

Answer 9

• bowlby suggested babies are born w/ social releasers which activate adult social interaction & make adult attach to baby
• social releasers are:
  –> physical - typical ‘baby face’ & body proportions
  –> behavioural - eg. crying, cooing
• shows how children have adaptive & innate drive to attach - allows protection via creating a secure base

Question 10

evaluation of bowlby’s explanation of attachment AO3

Answer 10

+)
P: research to support idea of social releasers
E: eg. brazelton et. al (1975) found in an observation, that babies use social releasers to trigger interactions w/n adults. when instructed (by researchers) to ignore these social releasers, babies became increasingly distressed
T: suggests social releasers are important in emotional development & hence, attachment development

+)
P: research to support idea of internal working model
E: eg. bailey et. al (2007) found, in sample of 99 mothers with 1-year babies, that mothers with poor attachment to own primary attachment figures were more likely to have this with their child
T: suggests bowlby’s idea that the mothers ability to form attachments w/ their babies is influenced by internal working model

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P: opposing research - to concept of monotropy
E: eg. schaffer & emerson found many babies formed multiple attachments at same time (after, mostly, attaching to 1 at first). also, although the 1st attachment appears to have a strong influence on later behaviour, it may simply mean it is stronger & not diff. in quality from child’s other attachments
T: bowlby may be incorrect in saying there is a unique quality/importance to child’s primary attachment which reduces its validity

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P: opposing research to concept of internal working model
E: eg. kornienko (2016) found genetic differences in anxiety/sociability affect social behaviour in babies/adults & these diff. could impact parenting ability
T: bowbly may have overstated importance of IWM in social behaviour & parenting at expense of other factors

-)
P: differing theory
E: eg. dollard & miller proposed learning theory of attachment. suggests emphasis should be placed on attachment figure being provider of food, explained via operant/classical conditioning
T: bowlby’s theory isn’t the only explanation for attachment - however, still important to recognise the learning theory has much opposing research

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P: practical application
E: within social care system, aim is to keep mothers/fathers w/ infants as much as poss. similarly, hopsitals allow parents to stay overnight if child is ill. suggests that an importance is placed on not disrupting the mother-child bond unless necessary
T: bowlby’s theory can be used to support children developing a stronger attachment with their caregiver within the critical period