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Theory of Evolution
In Darwin's book, The Descent of Man, he discussed the similarities between species:
Fascination with nature and wildlife led to his position on the Beagle, and subsequently to the observations used to help the development of his theory on evolution
Concluded that the various species had a common ancestor, and newer species had died out or changed to meet requirements of their changing environments. Not the common idea that species was created in a fixed and perfect form.
Darwin and Wallace presented joint theory of evolution in 1858. A year later, he published The Origin of Species.
For a 2-year-old, the knowledge that mother or father is "going next door for a moment" is meaningless; the child simply wants to go, too. However, the 3-year-old has some understanding of such plans and can visualize the parent's behavior while he or she is away. Thus, the child is more willing to let the parent go away.
Bowlby deemed many institutionally reared children who were unable to form deep attachments later in life "affectionless characters."
Actions that maintain proximity to a parent - like crying out, clinging, following - are known as attachment behaviors.
"A Two-Year-Old goes to Hospital"
In our species, attachment behaviors became part of our biological equipment because they helped the young survive, providing protection from predators in our environment of adaptedness.
As a product of evolution, the human child has an instinctual need to stay close to the parent on whom she imprinted.
Ethologists are convinced that studying the animal in it's natural setting will help in determining the animal's behavior pattern, as well as observe how they serve in the adaptation of the species.
An instinct can be:
Attachment is important throughout the life cycle:
Modern Ethologists
Konrad Lorenz is known as the Father of Modern Ethology. Began to study ethology when he became convinced that one could see the landmarks of evolution in the innate behavior patterns of animals, just as surely as their physical traits.
John Bowlby became on of the first British psychiatrists to work in the area of child guidance. Early on he was concerned about the disturbances of children growing up in understaffed orphanages and nurseries.
People provide each other with a secure base of support. In the healthiest adult partnerships, each partner knows he or she has an unwavering backup, someone who can be trusted to provide emotional support and assistance.
Mary D. S. Ainsworth, who became Bowlby's research assistant, contributed to the field of Human Attachment through her Uganda and Baltimore studies in which she sketched out the phases of attachment and described how babies use the mother as a secure base from which to explore.
Niko Tinbergen, along with Lorenz (and Von Frisch) won the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine in 1973.
Significant awareness with respect to emotional deprivation in orphanages and institutions has been raised. Also, a common practice of rooming-in with a hospitalized child was established.
For many animals, they are innately equipped with all of the patterns of an instinct, but lack some information about the releasing stimuli.
Many questions arise concerning the day care issue: does it prevent the baby from forming a bond with the parents? What are the effects of daily separation?
Although quality day care is available, parents really need to spend considerably more relaxed and enjoyable time with children.
1. Securely Attached Infants: use the mother as a base for exploration when she was present - when she left, they were visibly upset. Upon her return, they remained close until reassured. These mothers were lovingly available to their babies.
Healthy pattern of attachment behavior.
U.S. Psychologists criticized ethologists for ignoring the role of the environment and experience.
However, ethologists recognize that instincts have evolved because they have been adaptive within certain environments and that instincts need the right environment to develop properly. Thus, the environment is important. And, instincts will emerge without elaborate conditioning or learning.
2. Insecure-Avoidant Infants: appear quite independent. Ignored the mother most of the time and upon her return they did not seek proximity to her. Ainsworth saw such children as suffering from some degree of emotional difficulty - similar to children who experienced painful separations. Mothers were relatively insensitive, interfering, and rejecting. As adult, becomes overly self-reliant and detached.
Evolution has provided infants with signals and gestures that promote healthy development, and its wisest to respond to them.
The beginning of the critical or sensitive period seems to be ushered in by inner, maturational promptings (the young animal spontaneously searches for parent on which to imprint) and ends with the onset of the fear response.
3. Insecure-Ambivalent Infants: clingy and preoccupied with mother's whereabouts that they hardly explored. One moment they may reach for her and the next become increasingly angry at her. Mothers treated children in an inconsistent manner - warm and responsive at times, and not at other times. Often deemed a "resistance" behavior because they desperately seek contact, but resist it.
Some research showed that slowing the neural development of animals may lead to extending the critical period. Thus, many refer to this specific time early in life as a sensitive period, rather than a critical period.
Secure/Autonomous speakers: talk open and freely about their own early experiences. Securely attached children.
Dismissing of Attachment speakers: talk as if their own attachment experiences are unimportant. Tend to have insecure/avoidant children.
Preoccupied speakers: still struggling to win parent's approval and love. Own neediness makes it difficult to respond to infant's needs.
Imprinting may govern other kinds of learning: sexual preferences, learning of territorial maps, food preferences, and songs.
The Disorganized/Disoriented Infant -averted face or frozen stance when mother would walk back into the room. At a loss of how to act - almost afraid. Points to possibility of abuse
Kristen Brown PSYCH 534