Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment Flashcards
AO1 Theory
HIMSIC
Bowlby argued that attachment is not learned, but is an instinctive, adaptive process that aids survival of the infant
Hierarchy
One primary attachment
The other attachments are ranked in order beneath this
E.g, grandparents and fathers are secondary attachments
Innate
Have an instinctive (inborn) drive to attach from birth
Monotropy
One special attachment to a primary caregiver - usually the mother
Law of continuity - more predictable and constant the child’s care, the better their attachment
Law of accumulated separation - effects of every separation from the mother will add up
Social releasers
Evolved to care for our offspring / children
Children have social releasers like laughter which attract us to them and make us want to care for them
Internal working model
Mental representation for future relationships based on attachment to primary caregiver
Secure attachment = more likely to have good relationships as an adult with friends and sexual partners
Critical period
Around 2 years old when the infant attachment system is active
If one isn’t formed, they may struggle to form one later
AO3 - Strength
Lorenz’s goslings - suggests that attachments are an innate mechanism, not learned
Tronick et al - studied Efe tribe in Zaire and found that every mother of a young infant would breast-feed all the infants not just her own. However, they would still have a strong bond with their own child and sleep with them at night. This suggests that infants will have an innate desire to form one strong attachment bond, despite cultural differences in child-rearing practices
AO3 - Weakness
Schaffer and Emerson - suggests that monotropy may not be true for all infants.
3% of infants attached to their father first
27% had an equal attachment between their father and mother
