Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's monotropic theory

What can be used to remember the components of Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

S- social releasers

C- continuity

A- accumulated separation

M- monotropy

P- period (critical)

I- internal working model

What are social releasers?

• Bowlby suggested that babbies are born with a set of innate, cute behaviours e.g smiling, cooing, gripping

• these encourage attention from adults and activate adult social interaction to help them attach to the baby

• reciprocal

What is the law of continuity?

it states that the more constant and predictable a child’s care, the better the quality of their attachment

What is the law of accumulated separation?

it states that the effects of every separation from the mother add up and ‘the safest dose is the zero dose’. To be safe, never separate from the baby

What is monotropy?

• described as monotropic as he placed great emphasis on a child’s attachment to one particular caregiver

• he believed attachment to this caregiver is different and important (usually the mother)

• the more time the baby spent with their primary attachment figure the better

What is the critical period?

• sensitive period (0-6 months) - easiest to form an attachment to a child in this period

• the critical period includes the sensitive period, but just up to the age of 2

• if an attachment is not formed during the critical period, a child will find it much harder to form one later

What is the internal working model?

• our mental representation of the world e.g the representation we have of our relationship with our primary attachment figure

• a child’s whose first relationship is loving with their caregiver will form an expectation that all relationships are like this vice versa

• this affect’s the child’s ability later to parent

How is the fact that monotropy can case guilt amongst mothers who want to return to work after giving birth a weakness?

as it is socially sensitive. The theory places blame and responsibility on the mother, which could possibly have a worsening effect on the mother’s esteem or metal health as they may feel like a failing mother

Give an example of this weakness

for example, the law of accumulated separation states that having time away from an attachment figure can lead to disadvantages in later life

Why is the fact that animal studies from Harlow and Lorenz supporting the idea of a critical period a strength?

because it makes Bowlby’s monotropic theory to be seen as reliable. Specifically, this research has inter observer reliability, as many researchers agree on it

Give an example of this strength

for example, Lorenz found that if the goslings did not form an attachment within a few hours, the chicks did not attach at all

How is the fact that there is research to support the internal working model a strength? (+counter/development)

because the research being carried out adds credibility to the theory

C: however, it could be argued that the mother’s lied as to put the blame on their own parents, and so the research could lack credibility

Give an example of this strength

for instance, Bailey et al found that mothers who reported poor attachments to their own parents were likely to have children classified as having a poor attachment

How is the fact that there is research to support social releasers a strength of the theory?

as there is research to support it meaning it is reliable and has a lot of credibility

Give an example of this strength

for instance, Brazleton et al observed mothers and babies whilst they were interacting. The attachment figures were told to ignore the social releasers given by the baby. The babies responded by lying motionless