Outline And Evaluate Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory As An Explanation For
Attachment
Para 1:
Bowlby rejected the learning theory as an explanation of attachment.
He looked at the work of Lorenz and Harlow to propose an evolutionary theory of attachment.
He believes that attachments have an evolutionary basis and he believes infants have an innate
drive to form an attachment; this attachment is adaptive (it increases the infant’s chance of
survival)
An attachment also helps infants develop an internal working model, a template for what
relationships are like; it generates expectations about what loving, intimate relationships are like.
It also affects later childhood relationships and their success as a future parent. There is an idea
that there is a link between early attachment and later relationships; this is known as the
continuity hypothesis.
Para 2:
Bowlby believed that there is a critical period for the development of attachments - this between
birth and 2.5 years. This is a specific window of attachment where where the infant must form an
attachment. If not formed in this time, the infant will have difficulty forming attachment in later
later and will have other negative later life consequences.
Para 3:
Bowlby proposed the idea of monotropy - this means that infants form one special emotional
bond with a particular adult - this is the primary attachment figure, usually the biological mother
or, a mother substitute. This attachment is the primary attachment and is the most important one
as this is what the internal working model is based off. Other attachments to individuals are
secondary and are less important but meet other needs such as social development
Infants are innately pre-programmes to produce social releases. These are behaviours are
designed to elicit a response from the caregiver - examples include cooing, crying, gripping,
sucking and grasping.
These are met by an instinctive pattern of reciprocity: caregivers automatically respond to
infants, and an attachment begins to develop through a reciprocal process
THERE IS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR SOME ASPECTS OF HIS THEORY
• Stroufe et al found that the quality of infant’s attachment affects infant’s subsequent
relationships. The study followed infants up to adolescence and found those who were
classified as secretly attached in infancy were amore socially skilled, empathetic, popular and
less isolated in later childhood
CONCLUSION: THIS INCREASES THE VALIDITY OF THE CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS
BY SHOWING THAT THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN EARLY AND LATER
RELATIONSHIPS
Attachment
Para 1:
Bowlby rejected the learning theory as an explanation of attachment.
He looked at the work of Lorenz and Harlow to propose an evolutionary theory of attachment.
He believes that attachments have an evolutionary basis and he believes infants have an innate
drive to form an attachment; this attachment is adaptive (it increases the infant’s chance of
survival)
An attachment also helps infants develop an internal working model, a template for what
relationships are like; it generates expectations about what loving, intimate relationships are like.
It also affects later childhood relationships and their success as a future parent. There is an idea
that there is a link between early attachment and later relationships; this is known as the
continuity hypothesis.
Para 2:
Bowlby believed that there is a critical period for the development of attachments - this between
birth and 2.5 years. This is a specific window of attachment where where the infant must form an
attachment. If not formed in this time, the infant will have difficulty forming attachment in later
later and will have other negative later life consequences.
Para 3:
Bowlby proposed the idea of monotropy - this means that infants form one special emotional
bond with a particular adult - this is the primary attachment figure, usually the biological mother
or, a mother substitute. This attachment is the primary attachment and is the most important one
as this is what the internal working model is based off. Other attachments to individuals are
secondary and are less important but meet other needs such as social development
Infants are innately pre-programmes to produce social releases. These are behaviours are
designed to elicit a response from the caregiver - examples include cooing, crying, gripping,
sucking and grasping.
These are met by an instinctive pattern of reciprocity: caregivers automatically respond to
infants, and an attachment begins to develop through a reciprocal process
THERE IS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR SOME ASPECTS OF HIS THEORY
• Stroufe et al found that the quality of infant’s attachment affects infant’s subsequent
relationships. The study followed infants up to adolescence and found those who were
classified as secretly attached in infancy were amore socially skilled, empathetic, popular and
less isolated in later childhood
CONCLUSION: THIS INCREASES THE VALIDITY OF THE CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS
BY SHOWING THAT THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN EARLY AND LATER
RELATIONSHIPS
