Bowlby's Monotropic Theory (AO1)

Question 1

How many elements are in Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory?

Answer 1

5

Question 2

What are the 5 elements in the theory? (A.S.C.M.I)

Answer 2

Adaptive
Social Releasers
Critical Period
Monotropy
Internal Working Model

Question 3

What does the ‘adaptive’ element suggest?

Answer 3

Suggests attachment is an innate system, inherited for survival. Bowlby suggested both parent and infant are programmed to attach.

Question 4

What does the ‘social releasers’ element suggest?

Answer 4

That infants are born with social releasers such as crying, smiling and appearing cute in order to trigger a response from their caregiver. This ensures an interaction from a caregiver to form attachment.

Question 5

What does the ‘critical period’ element suggest?

Answer 5

That infants have a** biological period** of 2.5 years whereby they must attach or else they will struggle to later in life.

Question 6

What does the ‘monotropy’ element suggest?

Answer 6

That an infant’s attachment to their primary caregiver, the mother, is the most important attachment in their development.

Question 7

What two principles in relation to monotropy did Bowlby put forward?

Answer 7

Law of continuity - the quality of a child’s attachment will be better if they receive consistent and predictable care.
**Law of accumulated separation **- having substantial time apart from their monotropy risks poor quality attachment.

Question 8

What does the ‘internal working model’ element suggest?

Answer 8

That we create a mental representation of our relationship with our primary caregiver and use that as a template for what future relationships may be like.