Attachment theory

Starter What is attachment? Who do you form attachments with? Why do you form attachments? - Role of father and mother - Lorenz and Harlow

Aim To have an understanding of what Bowlby’s theory of attachment is

How do you make effective notes Copy down what is in red and has this next to it>> If any information appears that you didn’t already know, take note of that too Note taking is a really important skill to have in such a content heavy course, for exams and in university – they wont wait for you to finish copying down off the slide!

Attachment “An enduring, two way, emotional tie to a specific other person” Typically occurs between a parent and a child

What behaviours can you see when two people are attached? Close proximity Distress on separation Joy on reunion Person used as safe base to explore world

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment Bowlby was heavily influenced by these animal studies we know of Lorenz (1935) young ducklings (Black mask, p111) Harlow (1958) monkeys (Black mask, p110)

On whiteboards outline What Harlow found? What Lorenz found?

Why do we form attachments?

Bowlby thinks the same! He suggests emotional bonds such as forming attachments helps us survive and reproduce

Attachments are thought to have an evolutionary function What does evolutionary function mean? It is not a conscious decision It occurs through natural selection

Bowlby noted… Natural selection to ensure that offspring stay close to the caregivers Behave towards their caregiver in a certain way to ensure survival

Based on these animal studies, Bowlby rejected the learning theory Bowlby theory Based on these animal studies, Bowlby rejected the learning theory Nurture Nature Learn from the environment Born with innate instinct to form attachment

Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment Humans are born helpless and dependent on the actions of a caregiver for food warmth shelter and safety, for the purpose of their well being Monotropic means moving towards one

This means, behaviours which babies display which help survival are called adaptive behaviours What are examples of this?

Adaptive behaviours… Breathing: an infant will move their arms and legs when something covers their face to protect their oxygen intake. Body temperature: infants can maintain their body temperatures by shivering and tucking their legs into their bodies to stay warm. To cool off, they will automatically push off blankets and decrease their movement.

Bowlby suggests… Babies are born with the tendency to display specific innate behaviors to allow attachment = social releasers This helps baby ensure proximity and contact with attachment figure

On whiteboards, outline what you think these behaviours may be For example: Crying – to attract parents attention Looking, smiling and vocalizing – to maintain parents attention and interest Following and clinging – to gain and maintain proximity to parent This is a innate programming

These social releasers stimulate caregiving from the mother When baby is ‘attached’ with mother, they are quiet… they have no need to cry or cling These attachment behaviors are activated by any condition which appears to threaten the proximity with the attached figure For example: when mother disappears from view

Bowlby ‘critical period’ What do we already know about the term critical period?

Bowlby ‘critical period’ Babies have to form an attachment with their caregiver during a critical period This is between birth and 2½ years old. Bowlby said that if a child doesn’t form an attachment during this time then the child would be damaged socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically

Who do we form attachments with? Infants form a single special attachment with one primary attachment figure This is usually the mother But what do we know about this? Think of the lesson last week??

Remember monotropic means moving towards one The special attachment with one primary attachment figure Usually the mother Top of hierarchy Other attachments may develop in a hierarchy below this

Poor monotropic attachment The attachments formed influenced infants internal working model of relationships This means, the relationships formed in childhood will influence what future relationships may be as an older child and adult Poor monotropic attachment

Key terms: A Snap Chat Makes Images Adaptive Social releasers Can you think of a mnemonic? Adaptive Social releasers Critical period Monotropy Internal working model A Snap Chat Makes Images

Handout 1

Plenary The aim of todays lesson was to have an understanding of what Bowlby’s theory of attachment is On whiteboards, summarise what Bowlby’s theory of attachment is