Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory of Attachment

Question 1

Why did attachment like imprinting evolve?

Answer 1

To keep young animals safe by ensuring they stay close to adult caregivers

Question 2

Why is Bowlby theory described as monotropic?

Answer 2

He placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver

Question 3

Who did Bowlby describe as ‘the mother’?

Answer 3

A person who’s attachment is different and more important to a child than other attachments are to the child

Question 4

What did Bowlby think about spending more time with the primary attachment figure?

Answer 4

The more time a baby spent with this mother figure the better

Question 5

Bowlby two principles:

Answer 5

1. Law of continuity - more constant and predictable a child’s care the better quality of attachment
2. The law of accumulated separation - effects of every separation from the mother add yo ‘and the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’

Question 6

What did Bowlby suggest babies are born with?

Answer 6

A set of innate behaviours like smiling or cooing that encourage attention from adults

Question 7

What is the purpose of social releases?

Answer 7

To activate adult social interaction and so make an adult attach to the baby

Question 8

What did Bowlby recognise about attachment?

Answer 8

That it was a reciprocal process
Both mother and baby are ‘hard-wired’ to become attached

Question 9

What does the interplay between baby and caregiver do?

Answer 9

Gradually builds the relationship between baby and caregiver beginning in the early weeks of life

Question 10

What did Bowlby propose about the critical period?

Answer 10

There is a critical period around 6 months when the infant attachment system is active
This was viewed more as a sensitive period

Question 11

Sensitive period

Answer 11

A child is maximally sensitive at 6 months and this possibly extends up to the age of 2
If attachment is not formed in this time a child will find it much harder to form one later

Question 12

What is the internal working model? And why is it called this?

Answer 12

Our mental representations of the world
Serves as a model for what relationships are like

Question 13

A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will expect what?

Answer 13

All relationships are as loving and reliable and they will bring these qualities to future relationships

Question 14

What does the internal working model affect?

Answer 14

A child’s later ability to be a parent themselves

Question 15

Why do children from functional families tend to have similar families themselves?

Answer 15

People tend to base parenting behaviour on their own experiences of being parented

Question 16

P = one limitation is that the concept of monotropy lacks validity

Answer 16

E = Schaffer and Emerson found that most babies did attach to one person at first a significant minority formed multiple attachments at the same time
E = although the first attachment does appear to have a strong influence on late behaviour this may simply mean it’s stronger not necessarily different in quality from the child’s other attachments
L = Bowlby may be incorrect that there is a unique quality and importance of the child’s primary attachment