Evaluations for Bowlby's monotropic theory

Hazan and Shaver

They support the internal working model.

They uploaded a love quiz that is aimed at the participants attachment style in infancy and their attachment style in adult relationships. They found out this had a positive correlation.

Therefore attachment style provides you with a blueprint

Validity of monotropy

Monotropy lacks validity as Schaffer and Emerson found that babies formed multiple attachments. (By 18 months 32% had at least 5 attachments).

And it lacks temporal validity and it overlooks fathers as a primary caregiver.

Support for social releasers

Brazelton supports the fact that attachment is an innate and biologically driven process.

Brazelton told mothers to ignore their babies. They shows signs of distress, the caregiver ignored this, and babies withdrawn. Therefore social releasers are essential for attachment as their attachment behaviors break down when ignored.

Research supporting the internal working model

Bailey assessed 99 mothers. Their attachment to their primary caregiver and the quality of the babies. Evidence found that the mothers with poor attachment to their caregivers were more likely to have poor attached babies. Therefore, attachment is used as a blueprint.

Critisism of critical period

Czech twins were neglected during critical period. Then accepted into a loving family, their emotional and social damages were reversed. The damage can be deemed as irreversible from Emerson’s research but this research contradicts it.