Bowlby argued that attachment was an "evolved mechanism;" an innate response that ensured the survival of the child. Bowlby argued that the first attachment between a baby and its caregiver provided the child with an internal working model. This is referred to as the continuity hypothesis and it gives the child an idea of themselves as lovable (or not) and of other people as trustworthy (or not.) Bowlby suggested the idea of monotropy in his attachment theory; the idea that an attachment to a single caregiver provides the experience of an intense emotional relationship and forms the basis of the internal working model; it is the schema a child has for forming future relationships, both socially and personally. He also described social releasers; sucking, smiling, crying and cuddling.
In addition he suggested the idea of monotropy, which is the suggestion that infants tend to direct attachment behaviours towards a single attachment figure, and that there is one special bond and this is typically between a mother and its child. The attachment being two ways is very important, and Bowlby believed that both parties should find satisfaction and enjoyment from the relationship. He suggested that babies are born programmed to behave in ways that will make attachments easier to form, for example they will display behaviour that encourages attention from adults, these include smiling and cooing etc. These are known as social releasers because the point of
Bowlby claimed that infants need one special attachment relationship that is qualatively different from all others. Lastly, the internal working model which is developed through the monotropic attachment. This model represents the infant’s knowledge about his/her relationship with the primary attachment figure, in other words, the mother. It generates expectations about other relationships, so whatever relationship the mother has formed with their child, whether she is kind and loving, or aggressive and uncaring, the child will develop and have this expectation in mind of all future relationships. For example, Hazan and Shaver (1987) showed that there is a link between early attachment experiences and later romantic relationships.
Failure to form an attachment in that time may result in difficulties in forming proper relationships in the future. However other psychologists argue that this may be a sensitive period rather than a critical one. In essence, it is easiest to form an attachment during the first 2 and a half years of a child’s life, but attachments may be formed after that time. Bowlby proposed the idea that a child will form only one attachment. He called this idea monotropy.
Our early attachment styles are established in childhood through the infant/caregiver relationship. In addition to this, Bowlby believed that attachment had an evolutionary component; it aids in survival. "The propensity to make strong emotional bonds to particular individuals [is] a basic component of human nature" (Bowlby, 1988, 3). Characteristics of Attachment Bowlby believed that there are four distinguishing characteristics of attachment: Proximity Maintenance - The desire to be near the people we are attached to. Safe Haven - Returning to the attachment figure for comfort and safety in the face of a fear or threat.
This supports the view that attachment and caregiving are universal and not influenced by different cultural practices. This also links to Darwin’s theory that if an infant stays close to its mother will more likely survive and therefore any trait related to such ‘attachment’ will be naturally selected. Bowlby suggested that infants form multiple attachments but these form a hierarchy, with one attachment having a special importance and emotional development. Studies have shown this to be true, such as Tronick et al. and the study by Schaffer and Emerson.
‘Bowlby’s Evolutionary Theory of Attachment Suggest that Babies are Biologically Pre-Programmed to form Attachments with the Primary Caregiver as a Survival Mechanism’. Discuss this statement in relation to research into attachment. Bowlby described attachment as being a “…lasting psychological connectedness between human beings.” Bowlby’s Attachment theory focuses on the ‘connectedness’ between infants and their primary caregivers i.e. their mothers, He states that this connection is an innate process which evolved as a survival mechanism to protect the infants and ensure that genes could be passed on. Bowlby’s attachment theory was heavily influenced by Darwin’s survival of the fittest as well as animal studies such as Lorenz’s geese study.
John Bowlby's theory was more evolutionary based. He proposed that attachment was important for survival – infants are physically helpless and need adults to nurture, care and protect them in order for them to grow. Without this assistance, they would not survive. Therefore, it is likely that human beings had been evolved in such a way that infants were born with an intrinsic tendency to form an attachment in order to increase their chances of survival. On the other hand, adults/ the care-givers of an infant too develop an attachment to them.
He proposed a theory of continuation; individuals who are securely attached during infancy develop to be socially and emotionally competent in the future, on the other hand, insecurely attached children have more social and emotional difficulties later on in childhood and adulthood. The reason behind this is because the mother’s behaviour creates an internal working model of relationships that in effect leads the infants to expect the same in later relationships. According to Bowlby, children have an innate determination to become attached to a caregiver because it has long-term benefits as does Imprinting. This is because both attachment and imprinting ensures that a young child/animal stays close to a caregiver who can provide it with food, comfort and protection. In this way, attachment and imprinting are adaptive behaviours.
Attachment is the relationship between two persons, that forms a bond for a healthy relationship. It provides safety which can help in forming relationships in later life. Attachment contributes to a person having self value, this is a persons opinion of themselves. They will also know the value of respect and have that respect for others and themselves. Attachment can form at any age but early attachments are formed through being sociable from birth, this happens through interactions with people from the moment they are born.