John Bowlby: Understanding John Bowlby: Understanding his shadowhis shadow

……or, Why I dig Bowlby or, Why I dig Bowlby

Daniel BerryHarvard Graduate School of Education

November 18, 2005

Attachment Theory: PrefaceAttachment Theory: Preface

Bowlby didn’t do it alone…Bowlby didn’t do it alone…

Mary AinsworthMary Ainsworth Long-time colleagueLong-time colleague Developed the first Attachment Developed the first Attachment

measure measure (i.e., the Strange Situation)(i.e., the Strange Situation)

Her original ideas tightened many Her original ideas tightened many of Bowlby’s thoughts, particularly of Bowlby’s thoughts, particularly in regard to maternal sensitivity.in regard to maternal sensitivity.

Attachment Theory: The basics…Attachment Theory: The basics…

Attachment: The enduring deep emotional Attachment: The enduring deep emotional bond between a child and a specific bond between a child and a specific caregivercaregiver

Endogenous attachment system within Endogenous attachment system within child, selected in the course of evolutionchild, selected in the course of evolution

Please memorize this very Please memorize this very important model now. important model now.

Bischof’s (1975) General systems framework for attachment behavior.

Attachment Theory: The basics…Attachment Theory: The basics…

Attachment: The enduring deep emotional bond Attachment: The enduring deep emotional bond between a child and a specific caregiverbetween a child and a specific caregiver

Endogenous attachment system within child, Endogenous attachment system within child, selected in the course of evolutionselected in the course of evolution

Over time, interactions with caregiver facilitate Over time, interactions with caregiver facilitate an internal working model (IWM) of the an internal working model (IWM) of the relationship.relationship.

In turn, the IWM shapes the way children In turn, the IWM shapes the way children explore and interpret their worlds.explore and interpret their worlds.

Bowlby: The beginningBowlby: The beginning

Edward John Mostyn Bowlby born in London on Edward John Mostyn Bowlby born in London on Feb. 26, 1907 to Sir Major-General Anthony and Feb. 26, 1907 to Sir Major-General Anthony and Mrs. May BowlbyMrs. May Bowlby

His father was an eminent surgeon, war hero, and His father was an eminent surgeon, war hero, and personal physician to King Edwardpersonal physician to King Edward

His mother was raised in an upper-middle class His mother was raised in an upper-middle class familyfamily

The Bowlby’s enjoyed a comfortable, Edwardian, The Bowlby’s enjoyed a comfortable, Edwardian, upper-class lifestyleupper-class lifestyle

Bowlby: Early lifeBowlby: Early life

John is one of six children and quite close his John is one of six children and quite close his brother Anthony, 13-months his elderbrother Anthony, 13-months his elder

Typical family-life for their time and class: Raised Typical family-life for their time and class: Raised by nannies, little contact with mom, and less with by nannies, little contact with mom, and less with daddad

At age 9, Bowlby and Anthony sent to boarding At age 9, Bowlby and Anthony sent to boarding school (Lindisfarne). Bowlby’s opinion of boarding school (Lindisfarne). Bowlby’s opinion of boarding school: “…would not send a dog to boarding school school: “…would not send a dog to boarding school at that age”at that age”

Bowlby: The academic sparkBowlby: The academic spark

After short-stint in naval college, Bowlby After short-stint in naval college, Bowlby heads to Trinity College, Cambridgeheads to Trinity College, Cambridge

Enters as a med-student, concentrating on Enters as a med-student, concentrating on both natural sciences and the moral sciences both natural sciences and the moral sciences (philosophy and psychology)(philosophy and psychology)

Finds himself drawn to psychology, which Finds himself drawn to psychology, which was largely dominated by Freudian thinkingwas largely dominated by Freudian thinking

Bowlby: The personal sparkBowlby: The personal spark

Bowlby graduates and works in two Bowlby graduates and works in two progressive schools, Bedales and Priory progressive schools, Bedales and Priory Gate.Gate.

His interactions with children serve as the His interactions with children serve as the first spark for the notions of “separation” that first spark for the notions of “separation” that would become Attachment Theory. would become Attachment Theory.

Bowlby: Finding himselfBowlby: Finding himself

Med-SchoolMed-School Psychoanalytic Training – Psychoanalytic Training – PhD and work with the PhD and work with the

(in)famous Cyril Burt (in)famous Cyril Burt The dissonance The dissonance

continues…continues…

In Med-School In Med-School Bowlby opened a Bowlby opened a Sandwich shop Sandwich shop called Bogey’s Bar!called Bogey’s Bar!

Bowlby: TavistockBowlby: Tavistock

WW II begins, Bowlby serves as Army WW II begins, Bowlby serves as Army psychiatristpsychiatrist

Colleagues he meets during this time become Colleagues he meets during this time become the “invisible college” the “invisible college”

Operation Phoenix and the Tavistock Clinic Operation Phoenix and the Tavistock Clinic

John Bell, one of the first family John Bell, one of the first family therapists, devises a entire therapists, devises a entire mode of therapy based on a mode of therapy based on a mistaken understanding of mistaken understanding of Bowlby’s methodsBowlby’s methods

Bowlby: Tavistock’s Dual-Bowlby: Tavistock’s Dual-MissionMission Bowlby is deep in his clinical Bowlby is deep in his clinical

work, but firmly agrees with work, but firmly agrees with the clinic’s creed, “No the clinic’s creed, “No research without therapy; and research without therapy; and no therapy without research”no therapy without research”

The Separation Research Unit The Separation Research Unit The World Health The World Health

Organization ReportOrganization Report

Quick summary:Quick summary: Bowlby as a Bowlby as a kidkid who experiences separation with who experiences separation with

caregiverscaregivers Bowlby as a Bowlby as a student student who gets interested in child who gets interested in child

psychology through Freudian thinkingpsychology through Freudian thinking Bowlby as a Bowlby as a teacherteacher who notices the effect of separation who notices the effect of separation

on his students developmenton his students development Bowlby as aBowlby as a psychoanalyst psychoanalyst challenging some of the challenging some of the

Freudian dogmaFreudian dogma Bowlby as a Bowlby as a researcherresearcher pursuing his interest in pursuing his interest in

separation and pathology, yet still explaining separation and pathology, yet still explaining mechanisms in Freudian termsmechanisms in Freudian terms

Bowlby: Birth of the coolBowlby: Birth of the cool

Bowlby discovers ethology Bowlby discovers ethology Raises the question of Raises the question of

whether the formation of whether the formation of bonds between infants and bonds between infants and caregivers is a product of caregivers is a product of evolutionevolution

If so, what might this species-If so, what might this species-specific system look like?specific system look like?

Bowlby’s Bowlby’s Attachment & LossAttachment & Loss Trilogy Trilogy

Bowlby compiles both his and Ainsworth’s Bowlby compiles both his and Ainsworth’s work on attachment into a grand theory of work on attachment into a grand theory of socio-emotional developmentsocio-emotional development

The theory was published across three The theory was published across three volumes 1. Attachment (1969); 2. Separation volumes 1. Attachment (1969); 2. Separation (1973); and 3. Loss (1983)(1973); and 3. Loss (1983)

Bowlby’s Bowlby’s Attachment & LossAttachment & Loss Trilogy Trilogy

Humans genetically predisposed to actively Humans genetically predisposed to actively construct attachment relationshipsconstruct attachment relationships

Attachment relationships are adaptive in that they Attachment relationships are adaptive in that they facilitate a cognitive model based on ones’ specific facilitate a cognitive model based on ones’ specific ecological contextecological context

This adaptation to specific environments has This adaptation to specific environments has survival value for survival value for individualsindividuals

Internal models serve as an adaptive guide for Internal models serve as an adaptive guide for navigating the social world and, therefore, affect navigating the social world and, therefore, affect long-term developmental directories long-term developmental directories

Should we buy it?Should we buy it? Evolutionary arguments are hard to Evolutionary arguments are hard to

substantiate without archeological substantiate without archeological evidence… evidence…

Non-human primate and behavioral Non-human primate and behavioral genetic research, does not contradict genetic research, does not contradict an evolutionary argument for an evolutionary argument for attachmentattachment

Early attachment has been linked to a Early attachment has been linked to a wide array of developmental wide array of developmental outcomes (i.e., achievement and outcomes (i.e., achievement and socio-emotional) socio-emotional)

Why should educators care?Why should educators care?

Children learn in social contextsChildren learn in social contexts They bring their attachment histories with They bring their attachment histories with

them and, in turn, these influence the way them and, in turn, these influence the way children form new relationships with teachers children form new relationships with teachers and peersand peers

Understanding these individual differences Understanding these individual differences allows educators support children’s learningallows educators support children’s learning

Bowlby loved education!Bowlby loved education!

““It is impossible to estimate the scope and It is impossible to estimate the scope and value of work in education, work that has value of work in education, work that has been touched on by most geniuses and has been touched on by most geniuses and has been taken for granted by fools.”been taken for granted by fools.”

References:References:

Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46(4), 333-341.personality development. American Psychologist, 46(4), 333-341.

Bowlby, J. (1951). Bowlby, J. (1951). Maternal care and mental health. Maternal care and mental health. Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Bowlby, J. (1969). Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1.Attachment. Attachment and loss: Vol. 1.Attachment. New New York: Basic Books.York: Basic Books.

Bowlby, J. (1973). Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2.Separation: Anxiety Attachment and loss: Vol. 2.Separation: Anxiety and anger. and anger. New York: Basic New York: Basic

Bowlby, J. (1980). Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: Vol. 3 Loss: Sadness and Attachment and loss: Vol. 3 Loss: Sadness and depression. depression. New York: Basic Books.New York: Basic Books.

Holmes, J. (1993). John Bowlby and attachment theory. London: Holmes, J. (1993). John Bowlby and attachment theory. London: Routledge. Routledge.

van Dijken, S. (1998). John Bowlby: His early life—a biographical van Dijken, S. (1998). John Bowlby: His early life—a biographical journey into the roots of Attachment Theory. New York: Free journey into the roots of Attachment Theory. New York: Free Association books. Association books.