Lecture Notes: John Bowlby and Attachment Theory

Introduction

• John Bowlby: Influential figure in education, parenting, child care, and psychology.
• Advised the World Health Organization.
• Founder of Attachment Theory.

Background

• Born in London, 1907, to an upper-middle-class family.
• Raised primarily by a nanny, saw his mother only an hour a day.
• Early experiences influenced his work on child attachment and development.

Bowlby’s Monotropic Theory

• Adaptive:

  • Attachment as an evolutionary behavior for survival.
  • Biological process: Child seeks attachment figure naturally.
  • Rooting reflex as an example of innate behavior.

• Social Releasers:

  • Infant behaviors/signals that attract adult attention.
  • Examples: Baby’s smile, cooing, gripping a hand.
  • Instinctive, initiate interaction between infant and caregiver.

• Critical Period:

  • Timeframe up to 2.5 years for forming attachments.
  • Lack of attachment leads to lasting social, emotional, and intellectual consequences.

• Monotropy:

  • Emphasizes importance of a primary attachment figure (usually the mother).
  • More significant than other relationships.

• Internal Working Model:

  • A model/template for future relationships based on the primary attachment.
  • Affects future romantic relationships and parenting style.

Evidence Supporting Bowlby’s Theory

• Animal Studies by Lorenz (1935):

  • Demonstrates instinctive nature of attachment.
  • Identifies critical period for attachment.

• Research by Harry Harlow:

  • Highlights long-term effects of lack of attachment.
  • Shows importance of internal working model.

• Human Relationship Studies:

  • Hazan and Shaver (1987) 'Love Quiz' showed correlation between attachment type and adult relationships.

Criticisms and Challenges

• Research by Schaffer and Emerson (1964):

  • Challenges monotropic focus, suggests multiple significant attachments.

• Cultural Differences:

  • Some cultures emphasize multiple caregivers.

• Social Sensitivity:

  • Places burden on mothers.
  • Neglects role of fathers.

Conclusion

• Bowlby's impact on child development is significant.
• His ideas influenced Mary Ainsworth’s work on measuring attachment types.
• Raised awareness about the importance of early childhood relationships.