Bowlbys Monotropic Theory

Question 1

Who studies the monotropic theory

Answer 1

Bowlby

Question 2

Bowlby suggests that attachment is ….

Answer 2

Evolutionary
We all have an innate attachment system

Question 3

Why do we have innate attachment systems

Answer 3

-To give us an evolutionary advantage in survival
-Both imprinting and attachment evolves ensuring that young animals stay close to caregivers to protect them from predators and to provide food

Question 4

Why is the theory monotropic

Answer 4

Because it emphasizes the child’s attachment towards one caregiver

This attachment is viewed as being more important/different from the others

The more time spent with the primary caregiver the better

Question 5

The law of continuity

Answer 5

The more constant a child’s care, the better the quality of attachment is

Question 6

The law of accumulated separation

Answer 6

The negative effects of separation accumulate to create a larger problem in attachment

The safest dose is a zero dose

Question 7

What is a social releaser

Answer 7

The baby has a set of innate cute behaviors which encourage attention from adults eg. Giggling and smiling

Question 8

What’s the purpose of social releasers

Answer 8

To activate the adult attachment systems to make them want to care for the baby

This is a reciprocal system for humans

Question 9

What is the critical period

Answer 9

0-2 years
The time in which the infants attachment system is active
If an attachment is not formed in these first 2 years then it’s much harder to form one later on

Question 10

What are internal working models

Answer 10

Schemas, which are mental representations that the baby has of their attachment to their primary caregiver

This serves as a template for what their later relationships will look like

This also affects how the child will act later on as a parent

Question 11

The more time spent with the primary caregiver, the….

Answer 11

Stronger the attachment

Question 12

Contradicting research on monotropy

Answer 12

Schafer and Emerson
Whilst most babies had one primary attachment, a significant minority had multiple at the same time

Question 13

Supporting research internal working models

Answer 13

Bailey
99 mothers, majority have the same attachment type with their child as they had with their mother

Question 14

Socially sensitive

Answer 14

Law of accumulated separation
Suggested mothers should stay at home

Question 15

Overemphasises the importance of attachment on later life

Answer 15

Alternative explanations to a child’s temperament like genotype making a child more anxious/sociable