Evolutionary Attachment Theory

Attachment is a strong enduring reciprocal bond an infant shares with a significant individual, usually the mother, who knows and responds well to the needs of the infant. (Gillibrand et al. 2011 p. 242) The evolutionary theory of attachment according to Bowlby is based on the idea that children have an innate programming to form attachments but they must be made during a critical period or it would not be possible after this period. The continuity hypothesis of the evolutionary theory suggests that relationships with the primary care giver (monotropy) provides an internal working model, which the child will acquire and base future relationships on similarly to the one the monotropy displayed to the child. (Add citation) Despite the theory

A link was found between early attachment types and adult relationships. Securely attached infants would develop a secure attachment with their adult partner; insecure ambivalent children led on to develop insecure ambivalent relationships. (Hazan and Shaver 1987) This shows that the early attachment type does affect later relationships, suggesting that early attachment types are important in understanding an individuals behaviour e.g. whether they are secure in relationships or not. This in theory could essentially perhaps lead to interventions which try and change attachments to be more secure that are more effective compared to CBT. It also provides support for the lifespan approach that attachment doesn't just affect an individual for a couple of years but that it could affect them for their entire life, therefore this suggest that it is important to try and ensure parents spend as much time with their children as possible to ensure a secure attachment. Although this evidence is in favour of Bowlby’s theory, the methodology was based on a self-report questionnaire including questions that try to investigate childhood attachments through the participant’s own childhood memories. (Add citation) These answers may exhibit social desirability bias to make the participant seem securely attached, when they are actually insecurely attached or vice versa. This may imply that

This implies that a profound effect on adult personality and behaviour can be a result of poor life outcomes because of an inauspicious start in life. (Slater 2007 pp.205 -219). However challenging this, Wilkins et al. (2015) cited Goldberg (2000 pp.34-35) where it was found that a number of insecure children formed attachments even after being brought up with inauspicious early years. This contradicts the idea that attachment is deterministic because Goldberg (2000 pp.34-35) found evidence to support that attachments can still be formed despite the early poor life outcomes; suggesting that free will is involved. This suggests that early adverse outcomes doesn't affect the individuals adult behaviour permanently so demonstrates that free will can be involved undermining the deterministic concept. A study by Chisholm (1995) compared Romanian orphans to a control group of Canadian children. The orphanage group were rated to be less secure in their attachments and more likely to have behavioural problems and developmental delay suggesting that early attachments are more desirable to be formed. This finding is useful for identifying resiliency and risk factors in children who may have had problems in their early years therefore making them vulnerable