Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

Question 1

How bowlby’s theory describe?

Answer 1

As an ‘evolutionary’ theory

Question 2

What does Bowlby’s theory believe in?

Answer 2

• according to bowlby, infants are born with an innate drive to become attached to a caregiver.
• this is because, by forming an attachment to a caregiver, the infant will be fed and protected.
• attachment is therefore an adaptive behaviour as it increases the infants chance of survival.

Question 3

What are the 5 key parts of Bowlby’s Theory?

Answer 3

• Critical Period
• Secure Base
• Monotropy
• Internal working model
• Continuity hypothesis

Question 4

What is the critical period?

Answer 4

• A period of time in which attachment is most likely to form
• 4-6 months
• outside of the window, it is difficult for attachment to form

Question 5

What is Monotropy?

Answer 5

• Idea that the infant forms a number of attachments but one of these have a special importance.
• This bias towards an individual, the primary attachment figure is called monotropy.

Question 5

What is a Secure Base?

Answer 5

• That the caregiver acts a base to which the infant can explore the wold and a safe haven that the infant can return too when threatened.

Question 6

What are Bowlby’s 2 laws under Monotropy?

Answer 6

1} The law of continuity = The more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better quality of attachment

2} The law of accumulated seperation = The effects of every seperation from the primary attachment figure add up and the ‘safest dose is therefore a zero dose’ -Bowlby {1975}

Question 7

What is the Internal working model?

Answer 7

• The development of a mental model of relationships which serves for what relationships are like.

Question 8

What is The continuity hypothesis?

Answer 8

• The idea that our attachment with our primary attachment figure acts as a blueprint for future relationships.