ATTACHMENT - Bowlby's monotropic theory (1951, 1969, 1973)
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- Created on: 01-12-18 16:38
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- Bowlby's monotropic theory (1951, 1969, 1973)
- Monotropic theory
- def: the idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attach with one attach figure, usually the mother
- infants display attachment behaviours at a very young age (innate) but become more focused on few individs over time
- Bowlby was heavily influenced by animal studies (Harlow + Lorenz) - led him to reject learning theory
- using findings from animal studies, suggesting that emotional bonds had evolutionary functions.
- saw attachs bond as evolving since the stone-age
- humans faced constant fear and danger of predators and so attachs evolved via natural selection. Infants behave towards mother in ways that increase their survival chances.
- adaptive behaviour = attachment behaviour
- humans faced constant fear and danger of predators and so attachs evolved via natural selection. Infants behave towards mother in ways that increase their survival chances.
- def: social releasers : innate, infant social behaviours that stimulate adult interaction and caregiving
- crying to attract parents attention
- looking, smiling and vocalising - to maintain parents attention and interest
- following and clinging to gain and maintain physical closeness to parents
- continuity hypothesis - attachment system as a child effects the attachments you have at a later life
- friendship, adult rels, attachment with own children
- internal working model (IWM) - developed during infancy. The form it takes depends on the experience of attachment when you are young. Model of what you expect future rels to be like
- infant has secure attach -> IWM expects all rels to be the same (safe, secure not confusing)
- insecure attach -> IWM expects rels to be insecure, unsafe. More likely to have problematic rels in future
- distrust for people (learnt - don't trust parents)
- paranoid / let them do anything (scared they'll leave)
- promiscuity (securing rel through sex)
- passed on through generations?
- def: the idea that infants have an inbuilt tendency to make an initial attach with one attach figure, usually the mother
- Research
- LORENZ (1935) - animals react innately to specific forms of stimuli - follow anyone displaying it (content when near them, distressed when separated). 'pre-programming' provide an evolutionary advantage by staying close to those individs - newborn animals safer from predators
- Schaffer & Emerson (1964) - multiple attachs are normal- against monotropic theory. 39% of children had their main attach to someone other than main carer
- Lamb (1982) - attachs infants had with other (fathers, grandparents, siblings) were for diff purposes as opposed to attach hierarchy. Against monotropic
- Rutter (1981) - infants display range of attach behavs towards people other than mother - no behav specifically & exclusively used for her. Against montoropic
- Kagan (1984) - innate personality of infant affects rel with mother. Difficult child - insecure attach (fed-up mum). Easy child - secure attach (mum wants to spend time with them). Against monotropic
- Belsky & Rovine (1987) - first few days old - display characteristics that match later life behav. Calm, less anxious -> more secure attach
- Evaluation (A03)
- research evidence supports continuity hypothesis
- Hazan and Shaver - Love Quiz. Correlation between PPs rel with parents and nature of current rel
- Schaffer & Emerson - children have multiple attachs, but one main primary attach (support Bowlby)
- innate imprinting is enough to get an attachment
- attachment = sensitive responsiveness increases - not imprinting alone
- Bowlby sees father as minor role in attach - but can be key attach figures (Lamb)
- right wing politicans use Bowlby's theory as an argument that woman should be at home caring for kids and not leaving them in day care
- Monotropic theory
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