John Bowlby and ethology : a study of cross-fertilization

Horst, F.C.P. van der (2009)

Doctoral Thesis

This dissertation project dealt with a detailed analysis of John Bowlby’s use of the emerging science of ethology – the observation of animal behavior in a natural setting. First, an account was given of the different issues of separation that led Bowlby to question the validity of psychoanalytic explanations of the mother-child bond. Subsequently, on the basis of the existing literature, archival materials, and interviews with researchers who were closely involved, a description of the “cross-fertilisation of attachment theory and ethology” was given. It was clearly demonstrated that Bowlby’s close personal and scientific contact with British ethologist Robert Hinde led Bowlby to “rewrite psychoanalysis in the light of ethological principles” and how Hinde changed his research program to incorporate attachment issues. Also a detailed account of the close personal contacts between Bowlby and Harry Harlow, the American animal psychologist, was provided. It was shown that Harlow modeled his world-famous experiments with rhesus infants on Bowlby’s theoretical ideas and in so doing found empirical confirmation for Bowlby’s views as to the consequences of separation in human infants. These findings, situated in their historical context, convincingly showed the cross-fertilization of attachment theory and the science of ethology.

• Animal behavior
• Animal psychology
• Attachment theory
• Ethology
• History of the behavioral sciences
• Infant-mother relations
• John Bowlby
• Separation

• All authors: Horst, F.C.P. van der
• Supervisor: Veer, R. van der; IJzendoorn, M.H. van
• Committee: -
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Centre for Child and Family Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2009-02-05
• ISBN (print): 9789090237077
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden