Bowlbys evolutionary theory

• the main assumption of the evolutionary theory is that our behaviour is innate and adaptive. therefore, attachments are also innate and adaptive
• innate means that a behaviour is biolofically programmed into us / is instinct
• adaptive means that we have evolved the behaviour as it helps our survival
• bowlby put forward a theory based on lorenz. he saw humans to be just like any other animal, thinking that we need an innate tendency to form attachments with a caregiver
• what acronym can be used to remember bowlbys theory?

  M - monotropic

  A - adaptive

  I - internal working model

  S - social releasers

  C - critical period
• Bowlby believed that infants form one very special attachment with their mother. this special, intense attachment is called monotopy, they form a monotropic attachment. if the mother isnt available, the infant could with another adult that acts as a mother substitute
• Bowlby believed attachments are adaptive. this means that they give 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 and kept warm
• through the monotropic attachment, bowlby theorised thaat the child would form an internal working mode. this is a special mental schema for relationships and all of the childs furture relationships will be based on this. he referred to this idea as the continuity hypothesis
• bowlby stated that babies have social releases, which unlock the innate tendency of adults to care for them. these social releasers are both physical [e.g. the baby face features and body proportions] and behavioural [crying and cooing]
• bowlby also theorised that babies have to form an attachment with their caregiver within a critical period which is between birth and 2 and a half years. he said that if this didnt happen, the child would be damaged for life: socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically
• evaluation of bowlbys evolutionary theory

  + monotropy seems to be universal

  + research evidence shows that poor parenting has long term effects on romantic relationships

  + Ainsworth observed the Ganda tribe of Uganda. infants formed one attachment to one caregiver

  + Fox studied children who only spent around 3 hours a day with their biological mothers, still had monotopic attachments
• evaluation for bowlbys evolutionary theory

  - research suggests that infants can still have healthy attachments after the critical period

  - critics argue that the importance of monotropy is over emphasised [e.g. schaffer and emerson found multiple attachments]

  - Thomas found that it was better to have multiple attachments rather than one

  - Parke found that different attachments have different benefits rather than only needing one

  - Van ijzendoorn argued a secure network of adults is needed

  - deterministic

  - reductionistic

  - ignores dads