Bowlby's Theory of Attachment

Bowlby's Theory of Attachment

1. Attachment is Adaptive and Innate

   • Children have an innate drive to become attached to a caregiver for protection
   • Adaptive because the behaviours increase the chance of survival
   • Evolutionary Theory
     • Behavioural system evolved because of its survival and reproductive value
   • Similar to imprinting

2. Sensitive Period

   • Since attachment is innate there is likely a limited window for its development
   • Suggested that 2nd quarter of the 1st year is when infants are most sensitive to the development of attachment
   • Becomes increasingly difficult to form infant-caregiver attachment as months pass

3. Evaluation

   • Individual Differences
     • Children can form different types of attachment
       • Secure and insecure attachments
       • Responsiveness of caregiver is the main factor in determining type of attachment formed
   • Cultural Variations
     • Attachment is subject to cultural influences
       • Some cultures promote dependency rather than independency by secure attachment

4. Caregiving is Adaptive

   • The drive to provide caregiving is also innate because it is adaptive
     • Social releasers elicit caregiving

5. A Secure Base

   • Safe place from which a child can explore
     • Attachment fosters independence

6. Internal Working Model

   • Mental model about emotional relationships
     • What individuals expect from others and relationships

7. Monotropy and Hierarchy

   • Primary attachment - Monotropy
     • Bias towards one individual
       • Most attached to the most responsive to social releasers
         • Usually the mother
     • Foundation for emotional development, self-esteem and later relationships
   • Secondary attachments form hierarchy
     • Act as safety net
     • Contribute to social development
       • Children without hierarchy appear to lack social skills

8. The Continuity Hypothesis

   • Links in with the internal working model
   • There is a link between early attachment relationship and later emotional behaviour
     • Those who are insecurely attached have social and emotional difficulties later on in life