Question

John Bowlby (1907 - 1990) was a psychoanalyst (like Freud) and believed that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood. Bowlby's evolutionary theory of attachment suggests that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others, because this will help them to survive. Bowlby was very much influenced by ethological theory in general, but especially by Lorenz's (1935) study of imprinting. Lorenz showed that attachment was innate (in young ducklings) and therefore has a survival value. What is the main idea behind Bowlby's theory of attachment?

1) Attachment creates the feeling that motivates the action of care.
2) If children have their mother, they feel secure.
3) Children are biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others.
4) Attachment is innate and has a survival value.

Answer 1

John Bowlby's theory of attachment posits that children are biologically wired to form attachments for survival and psychosocial development. Attachments provide security and comfort, which are fundamental for growth, as shown in studies by researchers such as Harlow and Ainsworth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main idea behind John Bowlby's theory of attachment is that children are indeed biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others, which has a critical role in their survival. This perspective is grounded in the evolutionary argument that such attachments ensure the child receives care and support necessary for survival, safety, and development. Bowlby's theory, influenced by ethological studies such as Lorenz's work on imprinting, emphasizes the need for a secure base provided by the caregiver for the child to explore and develop. Moreover, it proposes that the responsiveness and engagement between the caregiver and the child are essential for forming a healthy attachment.

Studies like those of Harry Harlow on monkeys have further supported the importance of comfort and security over mere nourishment in developing strong mother-infant bonds that are crucial for healthy psychosocial development. While Ainsworth's research expanded on Bowlby's work by categorizing different types of attachment styles through observations like the Strange Situation, the underlying premise that attachment serves crucial developmental functions remains central.