BOWLBYS MONOTROPIC THEORY

BOWLBY'S MONOTROPIC THEORY

ADAPTIVE

• ATTACHMENTS = INNATE AND PROMOTE SURVIVAL
• IF INFANT HAS ATTACHMENT TO A CAREGIVER - THEY ARE - KEPT SAFE, GIVEN FOOD AND KEPT WARM (SHORT TERM BENEFITS)
• AND LATER REPRODUCE (LONG TERM BENEFITS)

SOCIAL RELEASERS

• BABIES HAVE SOCIAL RELEASERS - 'UNLOCK' INNATE TENDENCY OF ADULTS TO CARE FOR THEM
• THESE = PHYSICAL
• -> SUCH AS BABY FACE FEATURES , BODY PROPORTIONS AND BEHAVIOURAL (CRYING AND COOING)
• CAREGIVER = PROGRAMMED TO RESPOND AND PROVIDE CARE
• ATTACHMENT = RECIPROCAL PROCESS

MONOTROPY

• INFANTS HAVE INNATE TENDENCY TO FORM ONE SPECIAL, INTENSE ATTACHMENT WITH A PRIMARY CAREGIVER
• IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• INFANTS HAVE OTHER SECONDARY ATTACHMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SECURE BASE

• ATTACHMENT = IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTION
• THEREFORE ACTS AS SECURE BASE FROM WHICH CHILD CAN EXPLORE THE WORLD AND HAVE A SAFE HAVEN TO RETURN TO WHEN THREATENED
• THUS ATTACHMENT FOSTERS INDEPENDENCE

SENSITIVE PERIOD

• BABIES HAVE TO FORM ATTACHMENT WITH CAREGIVER DURING SENSITIVE PERIOD (0-3 YEARS OLD)
• IF THIS DID NOT HAPPEN CHILD WOULD BE SOCIALLY , EMOTIONALLY , INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY DAMAGED FOR LIFE

INTERNAL WORKING MODEL (IWM)

• CHILDREN DEVELOP MENTAL SCHEMA FOR RELATIONSHIPS
• INFLUENCED BY SENSITIVITY OF THEIR MONOTROPIC ATTACHMENT AND INCLUDES A MODEL OF THE SELF, CAREGIVER AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO

CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS

• THE IWM INFLUENCES LATER RELATIONSHIPS
• WHEREBY - SECURELY ATTACHED INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO BE SECURELY ATTACHED