Learning Objectives Know the strengths and weaknesses of Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. Understand how research informs practical applications of this theory.

I called upon soooooooo much evidence from sooooooooo many areas!

Correlations between maternal deprivation in infancy and subsequent criminal behaviour in adolescence provides support for the MATERNAL DEPRIVATION HYPOTHESIS

Importance of attachments Bowlby used Harlow’s research to conclude that comfort was important for developing monkeys and that it is not food alone that connects a mother and infant. This research linked to the idea that attachment was part of the mother – infant relationship for monkeys. Bowlby used this as evidence that this was true for human children as well.

Informed Bowlby’s ideas about a critical period Importance of attachments The idea that human babies are pre-programmed to attach to a caregiver is very plausible, and there are plenty of animal comparisons that can be drawn to prove the evolutionary basis of attachment. IMPRINTING Informed Bowlby’s ideas about a critical period

“Babies should be kept out of institutions“ (Goldfarb 1947). Children who had spent time in institutions were affected emotionally, socially and physically. Provides support for importance of monotropy and MDH.

Showed effects short term separation which leads to deprivation Showed effects short term separation which leads to deprivation. Support for importance of attachment and evolutionary aspect of theory E.g. Protest and crying = behavioural social releaser.

Bowlby’s theory of attachment has been very influential in academic circles but, importantly, has been applied to the real world: Hospitals now allow parents to stay with their child to prevent attachment disruption. Day-care facilities adopt a ‘key worker’ strategy to provide a substitute care giver in the absence of a working parent. Social services support parents who are struggling rather than remove children into foster care.

Be clear Bowlby! The maternal deprivation hypothesis suggests quite serious consequences for even a small amount of separation. Some psychologists believe that these consequences are more likely a result of privation than of deprivation, and that Bowlby failed to distinguish between the two.

You’re just not very nice!

Multiple Attachments? Schaferson and Emerson, 1964 Bowlby’s claim that a single caregiver was the most important figure for a child has been criticised. Instead it has been suggested that children have multiple attachments with caregivers other than the mother. These can be with the father, grandparents and siblings. Once again it is believed that the quality of interaction is more important than the quantity.