Bowlby attachment theory

• John Bowlby:

  • put forward important theory of human attachment based on works of ethologists
  • Saw humans being just like other animals, must have an INNATE tendency to form attachment with a caregiver
• Includes concepts of

  • adaptive
  • Social releases
  • Critical period
  • Monotropy
  • Internal working model
• A01 Bowlby (1958) 

  adaptive 

  • attachments are adaptive 
  • According to Bowlby, forming an attachment helps to ensure the survival of a child
  • Attachment gives our species an adaptive advantage making us more likely to survive
  • This is because if an infant has an attachment to a caregiver, they are kept safe, given food, kept warm 

  Children are born with the ability to see (can see faces/recognise), hear, suck, cry, adaptive advantage of cuteness
• adaptive features:

  Children are born with the ability to see (can see faces/recognise), hear, suck, cry, adaptive advantage of cuteness
• social releasers

  • babies have social releasers unlocking an innate tendency in adults (particularly mothers) to care for them
  • This is adaptive to ensure survival in babies
  • Babies attach to people who are the most sensitive to their needs (more responsive and cooperative)
  • Also adaptive in the carer leading to better reproductive success

  Social releasers are both:

  • physical - the typical baby face features and body proportions 
  • Behavioural - crying, cooing, smiling
• social releases

  • physical - the typical baby face features and body proportions 
  • Behavioural - crying, cooing, smiling
• critical period

  • babies have to form an attachment with their caregiver during critical period which is between birth and 2 1/2 years old
  • Bowlby said that if this attachment isn’t formed a child would be damaged socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically
• Monotropy

  • bowbly believed that infants form one very special attachment with their mother
  • This special intense attachment is known as Monotropy
  • With an absent mother an infant could bond with another ever present adult mother substitute
  • Monotropic attachment is more important than other attachments more time spent with caregiver the better every separation was bad for the abbeys sense of security
  • Strong monotropic attachment enables Abby to explore and cope with life challenges using the primary are giver as a safe base for survival advantage 
• Internal working model

  • through monotropic attachment infant would form internal working model of relationships 
  • A child’s future relationships: this model is special for relationships, all children’s future adult relationships will be based on their early attachment relationship meaning their offspring will be better adapted to survive and flourish.
  • If mother is loving and sensitive then will be stored in memories and this will form basis for friendships, romantic relationships with partners and attachment to their own children 
• 1. adaptive

  • Nature for all babies to attach to mothers at birth

  S- social releases

  • Behaviours ( physical - baby face, behavioural-crying, cooing) unlock tendency’s in adults to care for them

  C- critical period

  • The critical time of having a secure attachment if from birth to 2 1/2 years

  M- Monotropy 

  • one important attachment 

  I- internal working model 

  • a template for future relationships
• 1. adaptive

  • Nature for all babies to attach to mothers at birth
• S- social releases

  • Behaviours ( physical - baby face, behavioural-crying, cooing) unlock tendency’s in adults to care for them
• C- critical period

  • The critical time of having a secure attachment if from birth to 2 1/2 years
• M- Monotropy 

  • one important attachment
• I- internal working model 

  • a template for future relationships