Bolwbys theory of attachment Essay

outline and Evaluate Bowlbys Evolutionary possibility of bond certificate. (12mark) Attachment can be depict using two theories, unmatchable existence Bowlbys fastener possibility which is establish on an exploitationary perspective. The opening betokens that evolution has produced a behaviour that is essential to the natural selection to eitherow the passing on of genes. An baby that keeps close to their m new(prenominal) is more potential to survive. The traits that lead to that bond will be natur solelyy selected.Bowlby has the idea that attachment has evolved and it is ingrained as it increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction, he suggests that children argon already natural(p) with this innate drive and that they were natural to per ground level these behaviours and born to attain attachment. To enhance the survival of their subject c atomic number 18giving is also adaptive and we are born to care for our children. He suggests that infants were bor n with fond releasers (for example crying/smiling) which encourage caregiving.Bowlby also suggests that on that point is a best snip to potpourri an attachment, this is called the clarified period where infants are intimately sensitive to development of attachments and Bowlby would suggest that this is when the child is 3-6 months old. However, attachment can lock away take place at other times but it becomes increasingly difficult. Attachment acts as a secure buns for exploration, which influences independence rather than dependence. Bowlby argues that infants form a single special attachment with whiz accompaniment attachment figure, usually the mother.This is called monotropy. separate attachments may develop in a hierarchy. An infant may because endure a primary monotropy attachment to its mother, and d give birthstairs her the hierarchy of attachments might include its father, siblings, grandparents, and so forth Another discern feature of Bowlbys theory is that the infant develops an internal functional model of relationships that guides relationship behaviour as an older child and an adult. This leads to the continuity guesswork and the view that thither is a connective between the early attachment and ulterior on emotional behaviour.A forte of this theory is that research appears to suggest that once the sensitive period has passed it is difficult to form attachments. Hodges and Tizard (1989) put in that children who confuse formed no attachments had later(prenominal) difficulties with their peers. This therefore supports Bowlbys concept of a sensitive period during which infants are most sensitive to the development of attachments. Another strength is that if attachment did evolve as Bowlby suggests therefore we would expect attachment and caregiving to be universal.Tronick et all (1992) studied an African family tribe where infants were feed by divergent women but slept with their own mother at night. However, despite this, later six months the children all still showed one primary attachment. This supports the view that we are born to attain attachment because attachment and caregiving are universal and not influenced by different cultures. Finally, Bowlby suggested that infants form multiple attachments which then form a hierarchy and there is more than evidence to support this. The study by Schaffer and Emerson also found that most infants have many attachments.They reported that there was slender relationship between time played out together and attachment. This suggests that it is the quality of caregiving rather than the total of it. This supports Bowlbys theory because it goes against the Learning theory as the learning theory suggests that provender is the main key to developing an attachment. A flunk of this theory is the multiple attachment model as this model suggests that there are no primary and inessential attachments but instead they are all integrated into one single model.Gross man and Grossman researched infant-father attachment and found that there is a key role for the fathers in genial development. This is a criticism because Grossman and Grossman are suggesting that there is not one particular figure as Bowlby suggests but that fathers and mothers twain play a role in the development of a child and therefore they both are as primary(prenominal) as each other. Another weakness includes the internal on the job(p) model as according to Bowlby it is expected that children form alike attachments with all people because they are working from the same model.Lamb (1977) found that nigh children form secure relationships with their mothers and insecure relationships with their fathers. This suggests that there is more to attachment than just a sensitive response to a social releaser. Kagan (1984) found that children have an innate spirit, e. g. tripping going or difficult, that influences early attachments with their caregivers and later relationships when they are adults. This is called temperament hypothesis. This means that attachments form as a result of temperament not an innate gene for attachment.