Evolutionary Theory

Question 1

What is evolution

Answer 1

• Process whereby useful features are introduced into a species.
• Features are useful if they help the animal SURVIVE long enough to successfully REPRODUCE.
• To survive & reproduce, animals need to be WELL ADAPTED to their environment.

Question 2

What did Bowlby do

Question 3

Aims of Bowlby

Question 4

Method of Bowlby

Question 5

Conclusion of Bowlby

Question 6

Results of Bowlby

Question 7

Attachment according to Bowlby

Answer 7

• According to Bowlby, attachment is a behaviour that has evolved bc of its survival value.
• An evolutionary trait is always genetically transmitted so children are born w a drive to become attached to a caregiver. It is innate.

Question 8

Attachment has different parts

Answer 8

• Adaptive
• Monotropy
• Sensitive Period (critical period)
• Social Releasers
• Internal Working Model

Question 9

Attachment has different parts: Adaptive

Answer 9

• Attachments are Adaptive
• This means they give our species an ‘adaptive advantage’, making us more likely to survive.
• This is bc if an infant has an attachment to a caregiver, they are kept safe, given food, & kept warm.

Question 10

Attachment has different parts: Monotropy

Answer 10

• Bowlby believed that infants form one very special attachment w their mother.
• This special, intense attachment is called MONOTROPY.
• If the mother isnt available, the infant could bond w another ever-present, adult, mother-substitute.

Question 11

Attachment has different parts: Sensitive period

Answer 11

• Babies should develop attachments w their caregiver during the most Sensitive period (3-6 months).
• As the months pass it becomes increasingly difficult to form infant-caregiver attachments.
• The infant has a critical period, around 2yrs - 2.5yrs when the infant attachment system is active. If the child fails to form an attachment in this critical period they could be damaged for life - socially emotionally, intellectuality, & physically.

Question 12

Attachment has different parts: Social Releasers

Answer 12

• Babies have Social Releasers, which ‘unlock’ the innate tendency of adults to care for them. It provides protection & enhances survival.
• These Social Releasers are both: Physical (the typical ‘baby face’ features & body proportions) & Behavioural (eg. crying, cooing).

Question 13

Attachment has different parts: Internal Working Model

Answer 13

• Through the monotropic attachment, the infant would form an Internal Working Model.
• This is a special model for relationships & has several consequences.
  1. In the short-term it gives the child insight into the caregiver’s behaviour & enables the child to influences the caregiver’s behaviour, so that a true partnership can be formed.
  2. In the long-term it acts as a template for all future relationships bc it generates expectations abt what intimate, loving friendship are like.
• Most importantly the IWM affects the child’s later ability to be a parent themselves.
• The continuity hypothesis proposes that infants who are strongly attached will continue to be socially & emotionally competent in their adult relationships. Whereas, infants who arent strongly attached have more social & emotional difficulties in future adult relationships.

Question 14

AO3 Mixed evidence for monotropy

Answer 14

Q. How can you sue Schaffer & Emerson’s 1964 study to evaluate Bowlby’s theory?

• Monotropy does not happen in all infants
• Schaffer & Emerson found that a significant minority of infants formed multiple attachments at the same time
• Suess et al (1991) have shown that attachment to the mother is more important in predicting late behaviour.