Bowlbys Monotropic Theory

Question 1

Outline how Bowlbys monotropic theory suggests attachment is adaptive and innate

Answer 1

Evolutionary explanation for attachment
Believed attachment is innate (born w it) and adaptive process (essential for survival)
Aids survival of infant by ensuring its safety- if stay close to mother she can feed and protect them

Question 2

Outline Social releasers as part of bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 2

Babies born w features that trigger caregiving behaviour eg smiling and crying are social releasers
Social releasers help form reciprocal bond and are necessary interaction between infant and caregiver
Infant is more attached to caregiver who responds sensitively to social releasers

Question 3

Outline the Critical period as part of bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 3

Bowlby saw first 2 years of life as critical period for developing attachment
Believed child most sensitive at 6 months to 2 years
If attachment not formed during this time, child will find it hard to form attachment later

Question 4

Outline monotropy as part of bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 4

Bowlby thought infants have innate tendency to become attached to one particular person (different and more important than other attachments)
More time spent w primary attachment figure the better
Law of accumulated separation suggests effects of separation from mother add up and can have negative effect on development of attachment

Question 5

Outline the internal working model as part of bowlbys monotropic theory

Answer 5

Child’s 1st relationship w primary attachment figure forms mental representation
From this infants construct their internal working model (rules and expectations of their attachments w others and their own success as a parent)
A template for future relationships
Law of continuity suggests attachment formed in critical period will influence relationships later in life
Eg strongly attached infants will be socially and emotionally competent in adulthood

Question 6

Evaluate bowlbys monotropic theory using supporting evidence that attachment is adaptive and innate

Answer 6

Evidence from studies into imprinting demonstrate attachment is adaptive and innate
Newborn animals like Goslings form picture of parents within hours of birth which helps them stick closely to important source of protection and food
Lorenz believed imprinting has evolutionary value for animals (if follow mother more likely stay safe from predators, be fed and learn how to find food) which increase their chance of survival
However, careful when extrapolating research from animals to humans

Question 7

Evaluate monotropic theory using ethical implications

Answer 7

Monotropy is socially sensitive issue
Major implications for lifestyle choices mothers make when children are young
Law of accumulated separation suggests having substantial time apart from primary attachment figure increases risk of poor quality attachments which will disadavantge child later
Therefore pushes mothers into particular lifestyle choices w economic implications eg not returning to work when child is born or putting child in day care
Burnam (1994) pointed out bowlbys theory places burden of responsibility onto mothers, so is controversial topic in individualistic cultures
Also, Bowlby underestimated the role of the father as primarily economic which is an outdated and sexist viewpoint
Cohn (2014) found number of stay at home fathers has quadrupled in past 25 years, illustrating father can also be primary attachment figure and questions whether Bowlbys monotropic theory can be generalised to other social and historical contexts

Question 8

Evaluate bowlbys monotropic theory using evidence supporting internal working model

Answer 8

Numerous studies on child and adult relationships support IWM
Hazan and Shavers found adult romantic love can be related to individuals attachment history
Secure types have happy, friendly and trusting love experiences whilst insecure types find relationships harder, more likely get divorced, more likely say true love is rare
Simpson et al (2007) found securely attached infants had higher social competence as children, closer to friends at @6 and were more expressive and emotionally attached to romantic partners in early adulthood
Supports view that attachment type predicts future childhood and adulthood relationships

Question 9

Evaluate monotropic theory using idea multiple attachments may be just as important as monotropy

Answer 9

Research into multiple attachments suggested all attachment figures equally important (Rutter)
Contradicts monotropy
Questions whether we need to have special relationship w 1 central person above others in hierarchy of attachments
Thomas (1998) suggests tendency to form single main attachment is not good for healthy psychological development and more desirable to have multiple attachments
Thomas found in Caribbean and European cultures children developed many equally important attachments
Suggests mixed evidence for monotropy (hiercarchal attachment)
Weakens validity of bowlbys explanation

Question 10

Evaluate monotropic theory using support for the critical period

Answer 10

Number of studies have shown critical period in animals
Eg Lorenz identified critical period where imprinting needed to have taken place
If imprinting didn’t occur the chicks didn’t form an attachment

Also Harlow found if mother figure wasn’t introduced to infant monkey within 90 days, attachment was imposssible
Window of opportunity where attachment must be formed or will be negative long term consequences
However problem of extrapolating