evolutionary theory

• who proposed the evolutionary theory?

  bowlby
• what did this theory suggest?

  attachment is an innate process which is evolutionary beneficial
• what are the 4 key elements to bowlby's evolutionary theory?

  1. monotropy
  2. social releasers
  3. critical period
  4. internal working model
• what does ASCMIC stand for?

  • A = adaptive
  • S = social releasers
  • C = critical period
  • M = monotropy
  • I = internal working model
  • C = continuity hypothesis
• outline monotropy

  infant has one primary attachment with a close bond

  • law of continuity - consistent care
  • law of accumulated separation - keeps separations to a minimum
• explain what social releasers are

  innate infant characteristics encouraging nurturing response from an adult

  • cute facial features
• outline the critical period

  infant must form an attachment within the first 2 years of their life
• explain the internal working model

  child's attachment to caregiver provides a model of what relationships are like and how they work
• what will happen if the child has a long sensitive attachment as a child?

  same qualities in later life with friends and romantic partners
• what will happen if the child's quality of attachment is poor?

  more likely to have poor relationships with others and poor parenting skills
• what does the continuity hypothesis suggest?

  securely attached infants will be socially and emotionally competent
• weakness - monotropy

  • schaffer and emerson
  • other caregivers can be as significant as a mother
  • bowlby's theory is narrow in understanding complexity
• strength - research support

  • cross-cultural evidence
  • proximity is a universal behaviour needed to form attachment
  • behaviours are innate
• strength - real-world relevance

  • practical application in child development
  • critical period for foster care and adoption programs
  • improved outcomes for children at risk