Can the findings of attachment theory by bowlby and ainsworth result from genetic psychological pedispositions

Question

I am no aware of any research which rules genetic ways of relating to one another. What if disorganised attachment styles for example are the result of genetic transference rather than attachment interactions?...

the only way to rule this out is to check twin studies or to switch babies in the strange situation test and to allow them to grow up with different genetic mothers. obviously this type of test is unethical. know what i mean? what do you think??

Answer 1

Bowlby believed that genetics play an important role in attachment, but I don't believe he was thinking about genetic variation. Instead, he was arguing that the attachment bond was an innate tendency on both the part of the child and the caregiver. We all find particular physical characteristics in young offspring appealing. The proportions and characteristics of kittens, puppies, and human infants make them all appealing. The same proportions are easily seen in cute stuffed animals: big heads (relative to torso), large eyes, eyes at the center of the head (adult eyes are slightly above centerline), relatively small limbs, etc. Likewise nobody enjoys listening to a baby cry. We all find it very grating, and we feel compelled to try to do something to stop it. This is the sort of genetic influence Bowlby was talking about.

Ainsworth demonstrated that the behavior of the caregiver shaped the quality of the atttachment relationship. Mothers who were responsive had secure infants. Mothers who were intrusive / unreliable had insecure infants.

You are suggesting that genetic factors might influence the quality of the attachment relationship. On the infant side of things, there is extensive literature on this topic. Just look for articles on infant temperament.

On the parent side, things are a bit more complex, but again there are lots of studies that examine factors that might influence the quality of the attachment relationship. Look for research by Mary Ainsworth, Mary Main, or Judy Dunn, for example.

Research since the 1970s has demonstrated that attachment relationships are DYNAMIC and not static, and that a wide-range of factors can influence them, including things like parent job loss and caregiver depression. So while genetic influences are present in various forms, so are lots of environmental influences.

Finally, adoption studies allow us to "switch babies" in an ethical fashion. That is, babies put up for adoption and raised by non-biological parents allow us to test some of these ideas. For more information on genetic influences in particular, you might be interested in the work of Robert Plomin.

Answer 2

I think that there have been studies of identical twins who were adopted by different mothers. Thus, manipulation was not necessary.
It is generally felt that genetic disposition is one factor, but the way one learns to cope with situations and respond to them by your parents bringing you up adds something to it. It is generally fely that genetics accounts for 25% and family accounts for about 25%. The rest accounted for by the circumstances of life.
People are born with a predisposition, but they choose how to respond to situations. It results in a panoply of diversity. Be good and live in peace.