The evolutionary explanation of attachment

The evolutionary explanation of attachment

1. John Bowlby

   • Observed that early attachment have an effect on adult life
     • Suggested that children deprived of an attachment may suffer permanent emotional maladjustment

2. Basic assumptions of attachment formation

   • Biological attachment
     • Survival
   • Psychological purpose
     • Security
   • Attachment is innate and adaptive (evolutionary reasons as opposed to learnt)
   • Attachment formation promotes
     • Helpless human infants would have died had they not had a caregiver
   • Mothers and babies are genetically programmed through natural selection to ensure survival
     • Human infants have developed specific social releases- crying, smiling, vocalising and following/ clinging to ensure attachments are formed

3. The internal working model

   • Forming attachments also teach children how to form later adult relationships- vital for reproduction

4. Forming an attachment- the critical period

   • Attachment should occur at the critical period
   • If an attachment doesn't occur in this short time frame, it won't happen at all

5. Monoptropy

   • An innate tendency to become attached to a particular adult who interacts with them sensitively
   • This is unique attachment- it is first to develop and the strongest of all
   • This attachment will from an internal working model- a template for future relationships