Bowlby's evolutionary theory

• Bowlby suggested that attachment is an innate process that serves an important evolutionary function
• Evolution is the change in the inherited characteristic of an organism over time and characteristics that are adaptive will be passed onto the next generation
• Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment explains attachment as attachment between infant and caregiver is a prime example of a behaviour pattern that is rooted in biology and evolution
• Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment explains attachment as attachment behaviour had become programmed into human beings, and is found to operate similarly in all cultures
• Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment explains attachment as the purpose and function of attachment is the same regardless of ethnic or cultural differences: to keep the baby close for protection, to allow the child to explore and learn within a safe context ("secure base") and to develop a loving and reciprocal relationship that can be passed on through generations
• What are the main principles of Bowlby's theory? 


  -the notion that infants form one main attachment (monotropy)

  -attachments provide an internal working model (template of expectations) for future attachments

  -infants need to attach within a critical period (before the age of 2 and 1/2) or there may be lasting negative consequences
• What's monotropy?


  The idea that a child's attachment to one particular caregiver is different and more important than others. Bowlby called this person "mother" but its clear they didn't need to be biologically related
• What is the critical period?

  The idea that babies are born knowing an innate set of behaviours to get attention called "social releasers" that have a purpose of activating interaction so that an adult attaches to a baby, at 6 months old the attachment system is active and the critical period is till 2 and 1/2 years.
• What does M in MISSCRIED stand for?

  M - Monotropy
• What does I in MISSCRIED stand for?


  I - Innate
• What does S in MISSCRIED stand for?

  S - Survival

  S - Social releasers
• What does C in MISSCRIED stand for?

  C- Critical period
• What does R in MISSCRIED stand for?


  R - reciprocal
• What does I in MISSCRIED stand for?


  I - internal working model
• What does E in MISSCRIED stand for?


  E - Evolutionary
• What does D in MISSCRIED stand for?

  D- Dire
• The MISSCRIED is a monotropic theory
• Innate is the idea that attachment is natural, inherited and instinct behaviour
• Survival is that infants are biologically wired to form attachments as survival strategy
• Social releasers are behaviours that infants have that cause adults to form attachments to them, helping the baby survive
• The critical period is the time period where attachments can form - 2 and 1/2 years
• Reciprocal is where both people form attachments, 2-way communication
• Internal working model is where the primary relationship is used as a model for future relationships, like a blueprint (monotropy is a blueprint)
• Evolutionary is programmed in as a survival function
• Dire is the outcome that is dire if you don't form an attachment
• Is attachment monotropic?

  Yes, as the primary attachment is vital to survive and an infant has an innate need to attach itself to the primary caregiver in the critical period. The relationship must be strong and reciprocal in order for the child to become attached. This helps evolution and the infants internal working model.
• What evidence is there for social releasers?

  Brazelton observed babies triggering interactions with adults using social releasers such as smiling. The researchers told the primary attachment figure to ignore the social releasers, babies then became distressed and some eventually curled up motionless. This illustrates the importance of social releasers in emotional and attached development.
• The still faced experiment by Tronick showed there was evidence for social releasers.
• What support is there for internal working models?

  Heidi Bailey assessed attachment relationships in 99 mothers and their 1 year old babies. Researchers measured mothers attachment quality with the babies. Mothers with poor attachment to their primary attachment figure were more likely to have poorly attached babies. It supports Bowlby's idea that mothers ability to form attachments to their babies is influenced by their internal working models.
• Why is monotropy a socially sensitive idea?

  The laws of continually and accumulated separation suggest mothers who work may negatively affect their child's development emotionally. Feminists point out this belief sets up mothers to take the blame for anything that goes wrong for the child in the future. It also gives people an excuse to restrict mothers activities like going back to work.