ATTACHMENT THEORY

Theories of Personality IIFILMOR A. MALNEGROATTACHMENT THEORYJOHN BOWLBYThe Life Of John BowlbyFebruary 27, 1907 September 2, 1990London, EnglandTypical British upper-middle-class familyFourth among six childrenRaised under strict British morals of that era, which was a bit too hard for kidsRarely saw his parents and was actually raised by a nanny whom he loved dearlyBy age 7, was sent to boarding school

Went to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth but did not lastDecided to follow his fathers footsteps in the field of medicineStudied at Cambridge University and graduated from there in 1928After med school, he went on to do volunteer work at a school with 24 maladjusted kidsDuring this time, he was intrigued by the development of kids with rough childhood historyJohn Alford, his colleague and co-volunteer, persuaded him to study child psychiatryBegan training in this field under Melanie KleinServed as army psychiatrist during WWIIIn 1946, was appointed as director of the Department for Children and Parents of the Tavistock ClinicDuring the late 1950s, spent some time at Stanfords Center for the Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences but returned to London, where he remained until his deathOrigins Of The Attachment TheoryIn the 1950s, Bowlby became dissatisfied with Kleins perspective due to its inadequate theory of motivation and its lack of empiricismIn order to correct its shortcomings, he integrated his knowledge of ethology and evolutionary theory into the object relations theoryHe argued that childhood study be studied directly, not relying on distorted retrospective accounts gathered from adultsThe foundations came from his observations that both human and primate infants go through a clear sequence of distinct reactions from their primary caregiversMain Points Of Bowlbys Attachment TheoryAttachment a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and spaceThe infant has an innate need attach to one main figure.It is adaptive, making the infant more likely to survive. It forms the basis for future relationships, which promote survival and reproduction.Infants have social releasers that unlock the innate tendency of potential attachment figures to care for them.There will always be a primary bond, a special and intense attachment, called Monotropy.If the biological mother is not available, it is possible for the infant to bond with another ever-present mother-substitute.

There is a critical period in which the attachment should be formed.This period is between birth and 2.5 years old.If the attachment figure is absent or if the attachment itself gets broken or disrupted during this crucial span of time, the infant will suffer irreversible long-term consequences of maternal deprivation. This risk is extended until the age of 5.These consequences include:delinquencyreduced intelligenceincreased aggressiondepressionaffectionless psychopathyShort-term separation from an attachment figure leads to a clear sequence of reactions.Protest The infant cries, screams, and rejects the soothing of other people as a form of objection, then proceeds to search for the attachment figure who has gone missing.Despair Protesting stops and infants become quiet, sad, passive, listless, and apathetic. The child still refuses others attempts for comfort and often seems withdrawn and uninterested in anything.Detachment During this stage, infants become emotionally detached from other people, including their caregiver. As they become older, they play and interact with others with little emotion but appear to be sociable.

The infants bond with the main attachment figure leads to the development of an internal working model that serves as the framework by which the infant understands the world, the self, and others.

Attachment Theory And Adult RelationshipsHazan and Shaver (1987)Secure more trust, closeness, positive emotions, believe in long lasting relationships, less cynical about love, less likely to divorceRholes, et. al. (2007)Avoidant less interest in reading information about their partnerAnxious-Resistant seek more information about their partners intimacy-related issuesDavidovitz, et. al. (2007)Explored the role of attachment in leadershipFIVE-FACTOR THEORYROBERT McCRAE & PAUL COSTA, JrBiographies Of McCrae And CostaRobert McCraeBorn April 28, 1949 in Maryville, MissouriYoungest of three childrenGrew up with an avid interest in science and mathematicsEntered Michigan State University to study philosophyNot completely happy with the open-ended and non-empirical nature of philosophyPursued a post-grad major in psychology at Boston UniversityCattells psychometric work piqued his interestBecame curious about using factor analysis to identify structural traits

Argued Walter Mischels position on the consistency personality traitsIn 1975, was referred by his advisor, James Fozard, to personality psychologist Paul Costa, Jr.After 2 years of working together, both were hired by the National Institute on Agings Gerontology Research CenterThe institute was a perfect place for them to National Institute on Agings Gerontology Research Center

Paul Costa, Jr.Born September 16, 1942 in Franklin, New HampshireEarned undergrad degree in psychology at Clark University (1964)Masters (1968) and PhD (1970) form the University of ChicagoInterested in individual differences and the nature of personalityWorked with Salvatore R. Maddi, published a book on humanistic personality theory (1972)Taught for 2 years at Harvard, then from 1973 to 1978 at University of Massachusetts

Searching For The Five FactorsCosta & McCrae started building elaborate taxonomies of personality traitsNot using these classifications to generate testable hypothesesOnly for factor analysis to explore the stability and structure of personalityInitially focused on Neuroticism (N) and Extraversion (E)Found another factor called Openness To Experience (O)1983 It was still a three-factor model (NEO)1985 They began to report work on five factors of personalityAdded Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C)Throughout the 80s, the two continued their work on factor analysis of every other major personality inventories such as Myers-Briggs and EysencksTwo Major Questions AnsweredHow was a common language to emerge from dozens of different personality inventories and hundreds of different scales?What is the structure of personality?The Five-Factor Model was able to provide substantial answers to both questions.The five factors have been found to show a certain extent of permanence across different kinds of socio-demographic factors including age and cultural background.

Describing The Five Factors

Evolution Of The 5-Factor TheoryBy 1999, although the 5-Factor Model was successful in answering the two salient questions, it can only describe the personality traits. That is, it cannot explain. It is merely a taxonomy and does not actually constitute a theory of personality, even if it is backed by substantial research.They started working on turning the model into a theory.The disparity between classical theories and modern research-based theories have become more pronounced during this era. But, the new generation noted that the old ones cannot be abandoned.The new theories can only grow out of the conceptual insights of the past and the empirical findings of contemporary research.Core Components Of PersonalityBasic TendenciesThe universal raw material of personality capacities and dispositions that are generally inferred rather than observed. May be inherited, imprinted by early experience or modified by disease or psychological intervention, but at any given period in an individuals life, they define the individuals potential and direction.

Characteristic AdaptationsAcquired personality structures that develop as people adapt to their environment. Can be influenced by external influences, such as acquired skills, habits, attitudes, and relationships that result from the interaction of individuals with their environment.Self-ConceptConsists of knowledge, views, and evaluations of the self, ranging from miscellaneous facts of personal history to the identity that gives a sense of purpose and coherence to life. Actually a characteristic adaptation beliefs, attitudes, and feelings one has toward oneself are characteristic adaptations in that they influence how one behaves in a given circumstance.Peripheral ComponentsBiological BasesThe single causal influence on personality traits. Thus, eliminating any role that the environment may play in the formation of basic tendencies.

Objective BiographyEverything the person does, thinks, or feels across the whole lifespan. Emphasizes what has happened in peoples lives (objective) rather than their view or perceptions of their experiences (subjective).External InfluencesHow we respond to the opportunities and demands of the context has some influence on the personality system. It is assumed that behavior is a function of the interaction between characteristic adaptations and external influences.Basic PostulatesFor Basic TendenciesIndividuality Adults have a unique set of traits and that each person exhibits a unique combination of trait patterns.Origin All personality traits are the result solely of endogenous (internal) forces, such as genetics, hormones, and brain structures.Development Traits develop and change through childhood, but in adolescence their development slows, and by early to mid-adulthood (roughly age 30), change in personality nearly stops altogether. Traits are no longer as adaptive as they were before.Structure Traits are organized hierarchically from narrow and specific to broad and general.For Characteristic AdaptationsOver time, people adapt to their environment by acquiring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are consistent with their personality traits and earlier adaptations.Maladjustment Our responses are not always consistent with personal goals or cultural values.Plasticity Basic traits may change over time in response to biological maturation, changes in the environment, or deliberate interventions.