Early Attachment

Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 3.1.10

Bowlby (1951)

Bowlby formed his theory of monotropic attachment and the internal working model of attachment on the principles of imprinting.

Bowlby developed four main principles of attachment:
- Attachment has an evolutionary basis.
- Humans create one main attachment.
- We develop an internal working model of attachment during infancy.
- There is a critical period of attachment.

Natural selection is the process whereby organisms that are best suited or adapted to their environment are the ones that are most likely to survive.
If an organism is more likely to survive, they are more likely to pass on their genetic information, embedding certain genetic traits for survival throughout the generations.

Attachment is important for survival.
A human infant cannot survive on their own.
So attachment to a primary caregiver (mostly the mother) is crucial for survival.
This means we have a biological need to form attachments to our caregiver that has been embedded in our genetics through the process of natural selection.

Monotropic attachments are when humans form one primary attachment to a caregiver.
This monotropic attachment is usually with the biological mother.
Again, this attachment is crucial for the infant’s survival during infancy because the mother will provide milk and protection against harm.

Later, this attachment will allow the growing child to have confidence to explore their environment and develop socially and cognitively.
The attachment is a safe base.

Bowlby formed his theory of monotropic attachment and the internal working model of attachment on the principles of imprinting.

The first attachments infants form provides a schematic template upon which future relationships will be based.
Relationships need attachment, communication, trust, and care for the other person.
These are based on the internal working model that is generated during infancy.

The internal working model is created when an infant forms that first monotropic attachment to their primary caregiver.
But it is called a ‘working’ model as it is not solidified during this time.
The model will change and develop over time as the infant has new relationships (siblings, friends, grandparents, other caregivers, teachers, etc.).
The internal working model can give three different scenarios: secure attachment, insecure-avoidant attachment and insecure-resistant attachment.

If the child forms a secure attachment to their primary caregiver, they are likely to be able to form secure relationships during adulthood.

If the bond between the child and the caregiver is not as strong, they can form avoidant relationships when they are adults.
- In other words, they tend to avoid social interaction and the relationships are weaker.

Again, if the bond is weak between the child and the primary caregiver, then they will form resistant relationships in the future.
In other words, they will have difficulty in maintaining intimate relationships.

The continuity hypothesis states that the foundations provided by the primary caregiver help build the child’s future relationships.

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of strong monotropic attachment in childhood?
Which scenario might happen if the child forms a strong and stable attachment to their primary caregiver?