Evaluation: Bowlby's Monotropic Theory of Attachment

Evidence for monotropy is mixed

• Schaffer and Emmerson (1964): babies did not attach to one person at first, but a significant minority formed attachments at the same time
• Contradictory of Bowlby's assertion that babies only form one attachment to a primary caregiver and that this attachment is unique
• Attachemnt to mothers predicts later behaviour, however, this could be because the mother is the primary attachment, not the different attachment quality

Monotropy is socially sensitive

• Law of accumulated searation: having substantial time away from a primary carer risks a poor quality attachment that will disadvantage the child in a range of ways
• Feminists (e.g. Burman, 1994) argue mothers are blamed for everything that goes wrong in a child's life, and this law pushes mothers into making lifestyle choices e.g. notreturning to work when a baby is born
• Howver, Bowlby…