AO3

• Bowlby's Theory: Evaluation Points

  • Lorenz research support
  • Mixed evidence
  • Critical period criticism
• Bowlby's Theory: Lorenz Research Support

  Lorenz found that imprinting is an innate biological response that occurs within the first few hours of life. For example, the geese begun to follow him around shortly after hatching. This supports Bowlby's theory and the concept of the critical theory, increasing the validity.
• Bowlby's Theory: Mixed Evidence

  A limitation of Bowlby's theory is that the idea of monotropy is not supported. Schaffer and Emerson stressed the importance of multiple attachment and suggested that monotropy is not important for forming attachment. This is based on evidence that 55% attach to their primary caregiver first and 47% form multiple attachments without a primary attachment. This suggests that multiple attachments may be a norm, not monotropic attachment
• Bowlby's Theory: Critical Period Criticism

  Bowlby states that it is not possible to form an attachment after the critical period, which is a similar view to Rutter. However, some psychologists argue that the critical period is window of when children are maximally receptive to form attachments, but attachments can still form outside of this window. Tizard & Hodges found that children who were institutionalised still formed attachments when they were adopted between 4 and 8. This suggests that there is a sensitive period, not a critical one.