John Bowlby

John Bowlby (1907) was a British psychoanalyst, notable for his research on child development and his concept of attachment.

Bowlby’s studies began at the Trinity College in Cambridge studying psychology. Bowlby furthered his education- graduating in medicine in 1933 then going on to qualify as a psychoanalyst in 1937. During this period Bowlby spent time working with delinquent children. It was this early work which allowed him to develop a strong interest in the development of children- in particular the impact of separation between caregivers and children. This was to have a profound effect and major influence on his future work. In 1949, the World Health Organization accredited Bowlby to write a report on the mental health of homeless children in postwar Europe. Following the publication of his report, Bowlby persisted in the development of his attachment theory. In 1969 he published his first book on attachment theory: Attachment and Loss Volume 1. (1)

Bowlby devoted much of his research on the theory of attachment, describing it as a "lasting psychological connectedness between human beings" (Bowlby, 1969, p.194). (2)
His theory ‘emphasised the importance of the bond established between infants and their primary carer-usually their mother’ (Scott etal).
Once the bond is first established, an attachment is made between the infant and their mother. Bowbly believed that the need to form this primary attachment was innate and crucial in the first months of life (critical period) as it would have a prolonged effect on a person’s future mental and developmental state.
If a child is separated from their mother in which, Bowlby described as ‘maternal deprivation’, he believed that the child would suffer as a consequence, long term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties.(4) The result of separation becomes apparent whilst the child is 5-6months old. Harry Harlow’s experiment of infant rhesus monkeys evidenced Bowlby’s theory by showing how the monkey’s behavior was disturbed after being insolated from their mothers after birth. If a child receives a continual disruption of attachment in their first 2 to 5 years they will begin to undergo feelings of loss and grief. Primarily crying as consequence of this, the child will soon become solitary- ultimately becoming free from any emotional involvement with people. (3)

John Bowlby’s study into attachment was evidenced much by his own research. Bowlby’s study of Juvenile Thieves – in which he studied the backgrounds of 44 people in an adolescent clinic who were thieves and subsequently compared them with 44 people who had emotional problems but were not thieves. From his study it was shown that many of the ‘thieves’ had suffered maternal deprivation and therefore concluded ‘that there is a correlation between maternal deprivation in infancy and subsequent criminal behaviour in adolescence’ (5). Maternal deprivation must therefore have an influence and effect on a child’s future state.

Bowlby presents a strong understanding and explanation of the attachment between infants and caregivers and the effects that separation can have on a child. The juvenile thieves study and Harlow’s study strongly support Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis.
His theory places much emphasis on the belief that, although a child may make more than one attachment, the attachment with the mother is the most important and unique. Schaffer and Emerson (1964) however, carried out a study of the attachments made by babies between 6 weeks to 18 months. It showed that by 18 months many babies had formed more than 5 attachments and 39% had formed there first attachment with someone other than their mother.(6) Unlike Bowlby claimed, an infant is capable of making more than one primary attachment other than with the mother. Bowlby concentrates heavily on the role of the mother and does not acknowledge the relationships with others.
The study of juvenile thieves can too, pose for criticism as Bowlby concluded that the reason the people who were thieves, were thieves because of maternal deprivation. Bowlby did not consider or acknowledge any other contributing factors to the behaviours of the ‘thieves’ and can not solely assume that maternal deprivation is the cause. There was no evidence to prove the cause of there behaviour.
Whilst Bowlby claimed that children who are separated from their mother will have long term effects on a child, the Bulldogs Bank Study did however show that although being separated at a very early age- children can make strong attachments with others from consistent love and care. This shows that children, if separated form their mothers can go onto make attachments with other people. People who suffer attachment loss in infancy, does not prevent them from entering or making relationships later in life.

John Bowlby and his theory of attachment have been extremely influential in society and in numerous practical settings. The theory of attachment can be used widely in a practical context.
When putting the theory into practice, having a strong link between the context and child’s home is important in terms of gaining an understanding of the child’s family/ life circumstances. If a child does not have a prominent figure in their life, for example their mother, then they may be allocated a key worker through which the child can create a bond with.
When a child is going through different transitions for example going to nursery/school for the first time, it is important that the professionals in the establishment value the importance of the attachments to the children. The staff will need to ensure that the child feels comfortable and at ease within the setting and that the staff take the time to understand and get to know the child in order for relationships to be made.
In schools it is vital that the teacher is able to build a relationship with each child to gain an understanding of individual needs and for the child to feel accepted.

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