Bowlbys theory of attachment
Bowlby was a psychiatrist raised by a
nanny which started his interest in attachment. He treated emotionally
disturbed children and observed their attachments.
Adaptive: This means they give our species an
‘adaptive advantage’, making us more likely to adapt. This is useful and helps
us survive, it; feeds, warms, protect us. As well as taking into account
proximity.
Social
Releasors: Social Releasors ‘unlock’ the innate tendency of
adults to care for them, babies showing characteristics to force the caregivers
to love them. In example, babies cry, grip and cackle in order to do this as a
cry for attention.
Critical
Period: An attachment has to be formed during this period from
birth to 2 ½ years old. If no attachment is formed the baby is damaged for life
emotionally and socially. This is usually the most sensitive period- many
criticisms have been made due to this.
Monotropy: One strong
bond is made with the first main caregiver (usually the mother), ranked highest
of any other.
Internal
working model: This is a schema, a blueprint shaping what all future
relationships will be like which is based on the first childhood bond in the
Monotropy stage. A ‘Continuity Hypothesis’ occurs; if the caregiver is
neglectful the baby might feel that they don’t deserve love while if the
caregiver is caring the baby might feel that is deserves love.
Supporting Evidence
ü Hazan and Shaver (1987) researched a ‘love quiz’ in an American paper which asked
people to write answers based on two things:
1. Which of three descriptions are best
applied to their romantic relationships
2. A single adjective checklist which
described their childhood relationships with parents
Conflicting Evidence-
Bowlby
û Robertson and Robertson’s study found that good care can stop deprivation. Bowlby and
Robertson are wrong due to this and Freud is right.