Describe and evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory [12 marks]

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment after extensive research suggests that emotional bonds had evolutionary functions as he thought it helped a child’s survival. Attachment behaviours in both babies and their caregivers have evolved through natural selection, so the way they behave causes the infants to be biologically programmed with innate behaviours that ensures that attachment does occur. These innate species-specific attachment behaviours are social releasers i.e crying, vocalising and smiling.

Bowlby brought in the concept of monotropy through this that there is one relationship which is more important than all the rest. He, however did not rule out the possibility of other attachment figure for a child but did believe there should a primary bond (usually the mother) that was most important than any other in the child’s life.

His theory also suggested that there is a critical period for the formation of attachments, whereby attachment behaviours between infant and carer must occur within a certain time period if children are to form attachments. If, however, it does not occur, then it may not happen at all later on.

Due to the child’s relationship with the primary caregiver, an internal working model develops which influences relationships in the future. The model is a cognitive framework used to understand the world, self and others, that acts as a template. A person’s interaction with others is guided by memories and expectations from the internal model.

To strengthen Bowlby’s theory Lorenz found out that geese also attached to a single person/animal or object thus showing monotropic behaviour. He saw that certain animals have an innate tendency to respond immediately and consistently to specific forms of stimuli, like visual markings or sounds, usually displayed by a parent.