Bowlby

• Who was Bowlby?

  He was a pioneer in the field of child mental health. He conducted much of his work at Tavistock clinic. He developed theories about the purpose of attachment and also the effects of disruption to attachments.
• What is the difference between learning theory and Bowlby's theory (of attachment)?

  In learning theory, attachments are learnt via association maintained via consequences, whereas Bowlby's theory states that attachments are the result of a biological need to survive.
• What can Bowlby's theory also be known as?

  The evolutionary theory
• What are the 4 key features of Bowlby's theory?

  • Social releases (SR)
  • Monotropy (M)
  • Time sensitivity (critical/sensitive period)
  • Internal working model
• What are social releases?

  Signals that indicate the infant is in need. This includes behaviours like crying and crawling. Present from birth/appear in first few months of life. Help to maintain closeness to caregivers and elicit their attention. NOT learned, have evolved.
• What is monotropy?

  One special attachment. The first person to whom such a bond forms plays a special, unique role. This is the primary attachment bond. The primary bond leads to the internal working model.
• What is the internal working model?

  The primary attachments that infants form act as a template for all future relationships.
• What is time sensitivity in Bowlby's theory?

  The critical period during infancy lasts up until the age of 2 and a half years old. Bowlby originally said that if a primary attachment is not formed within this window, an attachment could never develop and thus the infant would never be able to form healthy relationships later in life. Counter examples to this made him change his idea. It became a 'sensitive period' that could last up until 5 years of age. He said attachments could form but take more effort/take longer the later they occur.
• What is Bowlby's theory of attachment?

  That attachment is an adaptive behaviour inherited by offspring because it increased their chances of survival. It argues that individuals are born with an innate drive to form one secure attachment. Also called the monotropic explanation of attachment.
• What are the strengths of Bowlby's explanation of attachment?

  • Lorenz's research with geese supports Bowlby's concept of a critical period.
  • Supporting research e.g. Minnesota parent-child study which found continuity between early attachments in infancy and later emotional & social behaviour. Supports Bowlby's continuity hypothesis.
• What are the weaknesses of Bowlby's explanation of attachment?

  • Research conducted by Rutter showed that infants who were adopted could still form healthy attachments after his critical period. Got changed to sensitive period.
  • Schaffer & Emerson found that infants could form multiple attachments which discounts Bowlby's theory of one more important, special bond