Edson Mutandwa

MBBS IV

outline Introduction

Main point of Bowlby’s theory(summary)

Bowlby’s conclusion

“If growth is to proceed smoothly, the tissues must he exposed to the influence of the appropriate organizer at certain critical periods. In the same way, if mental development is to proceed smoothly, it would appear to he necessary for the undifferentiated psyche to be exposed during certain critical periods to the influence of the psychic organizer- the mother.” Bowlby, 1951

Who is John Bowlby graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1928

and was training in developmental psychology

performed volunteer work at a school for maladjusted children after graduation

After His experiences with two children at the school he decided to embark in child psychiatrist

Introduction Bowlby worked under the supervision of Klein during

his training

Klein held that children’s emotional problems are almost entirely due to fantasies generated from internal conflict between aggressive and libidinal drives, rather than to events in the external world

Bowlby didn’t agree with Kleinian approach so he therefore decided to found his own research unit whose efforts were focused on mother-child separation.

Introduction Bowlby claims that during the early years, while the

child acquires the capacity for self-regulation, the mother is a child’s ego and superego

She orients him in space and time, provides his environment, permits the satisfaction of some impulses, restricts others.

Gradually he learns these arts himself, and as he does, the skilled parent transfers the roles to him

Main point of Bowlby’s theoryA child has an inmate (ie inborn) need to attach to one main attachment figure(ie monotropy)

one main attachment (usually the mother)

Relationship different(qualitatively) from any subsequent attachment

Failure to initiate or a breakdown of martenalattachment would lead to serious negative consequences, possibly including affectionless psychopathy.

Child behaves in ways that elicit contact or proximity to the caregiver( crying, smiling, locomotion)

A child should receive the continuous care of this single most important attachment figure for approximately the first two years of life

Bowlby claimed that mothering is almost useless if delayed until after 2 ½ to 3 years

First 12 months most critical

If attachment figure is broken or disrupted during this period the child will suffer irreversible long term consequences(cognitive, social and emotional defficulties) of this deprivation.

The long term consequences of maternal deprivation might include the following

Delinquency

Reduced intelligence

Increased aggression

Depression

Affectionless

Short term separation from an attachment figure leads to distress. This was described by Bowlby together with Robertson and called this the PDD model

Protest: the child cries, screams and protest angrily when the parent leaves

Despair: the child’s protesting begins to stop and they appear to be calmer although still upset. The child refuses other attempts for comfort and often seems withdrawn and uninterested in anything.

Detachment: if separation continues the child will start to engage with other people again. They will reject the caregiver on their return and show strong signs of anger

The child’s attachment relationship with their primary caregiver leads to the development of an internal working model

The model is a cognitive framework compromising mental representation for understanding the world, self and others

Consists of three main features: (1) a model of others being trustworthy, (2) a model of the self as valuable and, (3) a model of self as effective when interacting with others

Bowlby’s conclusionTo grow up mentally healthy, “the infant and young child should experience a warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with his mother (or permanent mother substitute) in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment” (Bowlby, 1951)

References The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and

Mary Ainsworth by Inge Bretherton

John-Bowlby-Attachment-Second-Edition-Attachment-and-Loss-Series-Vol-1-1983