Bowlby’s Theory John Bowlby had a different theory about how attachments form. His view was that attachment to mother is essential for healthy development.

Innate programming Attachment innate process for both infant and parent Evolved because it promotes survival (Darwin’s theory of evolution) Keeping close proximity to care-giver keeps infant safe

Attachment promotes survival by: Safety – attachment results in desire to keep close – infant and caregiver experience anxiety when separated therefore seek each others proximity Emotional relationships – enables infant to learn how to form healthy relationships necessary for procreation Secure base for exploration – enables infant to explore world from safe base – exploration important for mental development

Monotropy Infants develop one special attachment (usually mother) This is the infant’s primary attachment figure Infants can have multiple attachments but have one special relationship

Continuity hypothesis The view that there is a link between early attachment and later emotional behaviour

Bowlby’s Theory Video - are mothers necessary V:\Psychology\2. A2 SPEC 2009\FORENSIC\1 Turning to Crime\Are mothers necessary Pt1.mp4 Whilst watching, note down: Bowlby’s ideas Evidence for them Criticisms Up to fathers…

Bowlby’s ideas If you don’t attach, you could die of exposure – evolutionary reasons for attachment Communication with mother/caregiver is important and two-way- social releasers (e.g. big eyes, crying etc) Separation in early life causes later problems – Hinde – continuity hypothesis Mothers most important – familiarity is key - monotropy Infant seeks proximity from birth to the caregiver – attachment is innate Mother away=babies cry/anxiety – social releasers/ innate need for contact with mum/ monotropy – only mum will do Damage the attachment, damage the child – continuity hyp Forced separation leads to delinquent behaviour- continuity hyp

Innate programming – role of social releasers infant innately elicits care giving from mother-figure by means of social releasers – behaviours such as smiling or crying which encourage response infants have innate social releasers and mother-figure innate responses to these – promotes survival

Critical (or sensitive) period Only limited period in which attachments can form (biologically determined) based on work of Lorenz- found goslings would attach or imprint on first thing they saw (e.g. Lorenz himself and even a matchbox) Imprinting – occurs during short critical period If baby does not form attachment before age of 2½ years, then would not be possible thereafter

Monotropy Infants develop one special attachment (usually mother) This is the infant’s primary attachment figure Infants can have multiple attachments but have one special relationship

Continuity hypothesis The view that there is a link between early attachment and later emotional behaviour

Add the key terms you learned for homework into your notes as follows: Attachment is innate Critical or Sensitive period Limited period of time in which attachment to form Social releasers Infants have innate behaviours designed to elicit or create caregiving in others Monotropy Continuity hypothesis

Q7.Outline Bowlby’s theory of attachment. Bowlby's theory of attachment suggests attachment is important for a child's survival. Attachment behaviours in both babies and their caregivers have evolved through natural selection(evolution). Infants are innately programmed to form an attachment. This is a biological process and takes place during a critical period. The role of social releasers, such as crying and smiling, is emphasised. This concept of monotropy suggests that there is one relationship which is more important than all the rest. For top band, answers do not need to address all these points.

Task Pairs Use images to represent the concepts Choose someone in your team to be the illustrator The other person should try to think of images that could be drawn Prize for best two!

Attachment is innate Sensitive period – Limited period of time in which attachment to form Social releasers - Infants have innate behaviours designed to elicit or create caregiving in others monotropy

Activity Key term

HW Read p 54-55 Complete middle column of yellow A3 sheets for Thursday Findings supporting Bowlby’s theory Findings against Bowlby’s theory

What is similar and different about the two theories Learning theory Both Bowlby

Read p 54-55 Complete middle column of yellow A3 sheets Now match the four studies on your sheet to the points of Bowlby’s theory Cut them and stick them over the 4 findings you wrote at home – how close were you? – 20 mins Complete the last column – 20 mins HW for Monday – exam planning sheets

Findings Explanation Shaffer and Emmerson found that…..60% formed attachments with mother…..30% formed multiple attachments This supports Bowlby’s theory as it finds that there is a single main attachment figure for most children (60%). Bowlby described this as monotropy. However, this also does not support his theory as 30% formed multiple attachments!

Use the A3 sheets to Read p54-55 of the textbook You don’t need to learn all of the research On the A3 sheet, briefly summarise research findings that support or challenge each aspect of Bowlby’s theory Cut out and stick in findings from the help sheet