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'Goal-Corrected Partnership' in Attachment Theory: a Critical Assessment of the Research Programme

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'Goal-Corrected Partnership' in Attachment Theory: a Critical Assessment of the Research Programme The 'Goal-Corrected Partnership' in Attachment Theory: A Critical Assessment of the Research Programme Kevin Patrick Keith Unit for History and Philosophy of Science Faculty of Science The University of Sydney A thesis submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2017 The ‘Goal-Corrected Partnership’ in Attachment Theory: A Critical Assessment of the Research Programme ABSTRACT Attachment Theory may be the largest research programme in human development. But the contours of the theory remain quite difficult to define. Indeed, a pressing requirement to clarify what the ‘theory’ actually contends remains. This thesis is an interdisciplinary project that brings the dual lens of history and philosophy to shed new light on the theory. John Bowlby’s (1907-1990) goals and methods for Attachment Theory were both radical and innovative. First, he set out to ‘radically’ overhaul the entire of edifice of psychoanalysis— what he would call Freud’s original metapsychology. Second, Bowlby combined three fields in a manner that anticipated today’s more integrative non-dualist, non-reductive approaches to the human mind: (1) Tinbergen’s four questions in behavioural biology, (2) questions in emotion research, and (3) a range of concepts from the cognitive sciences, especially Craik’s concept of mental models. This integrative approach marks a philosophical commitment to naturalism. I distinguish 13 attachment constructs—the initial 12 allocated across the Tinbergen framework. This provides a helpful approach for clarifying the inherent complexity of the theory. Indeed, an historical picture beginning in the 1950s suggests how complexity has been increasingly embraced. A 13th construct—the organisational perspective—provides a plank for tying attachment to philosophical insights from Developmental Systems Theory (DST). Bowlby’s Goal-Corrected Partnership (GCP) proposed that attachment relationships develop beyond infancy and require engagement with newly emerging cognitive skills. The thesis argues that the GCP offers an important corrective to conceptualisations that somehow narrowly conceive attachment phenomena as a purely implicit, infancy derived, affectively triggered ‘protection’ function. Attachment Theory makes possible a reintroduction of a developmental perspective into psychiatry. Its causal credentials could also provide a breath of fresh air for a mental health arena dominated by symptoms, signs and their removal. Finally an acknowledgement of GCP relationships, matches the growing empirical awareness that behaviour, emotion and cognition may be more integrated phenomena than current studies allow. ii Acknowledgement This dissertation could not have been completed without the support of a number of people, as well as the University of Sydney. It is my pleasure to acknowledge those who have guided, encouraged and supported me over the past 7 years. First, I would like to acknowledge the support, including partial research funding, received from the Unit for History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney. A very special thanks goes to Associate Professor, Dominic Murphy, philosopher and my primary supervisor. His guidance in my important transition form continental philosophy to a more analytically grounded philosophy of science has been truly invaluable. Dominic’s patience with my occasional ‘loss of focus’ and ‘wandering widely’ has been much appreciated. Finally, his generosity in consistently sharing his immense knowledge and timely help toward this conclusion has been crucial. Thanks also go out to Associate Professor, Hans Pols, historian and my secondary supervisor. His regular encouragement has been appreciated. Hans’ direction for engaging ‘all things past’ has been steadying. Indeed, it was a privilege to hear of his post-graduate research interview with the late attachment researcher Mary Ainsworth. Gratitude is also extended to the faculty, academics, colleagues and my clients: I’ve gained much knowledge from them all. And a friendly thanks goes to Professor Peter Williams for disrupting his retirement from academic life to provide important ‘friendly’ proofreading. I would obviously like to thank family and friends spread across four continents. Although they all know I read a great deal, I suspect most may have regularly wondered if this latest study endeavour would ever conclude. Hopefully, we will soon be able to get better ‘acquainted’ post-dissertation. The support over the long seven years has been appreciated. I am also confident that each of my late family members—mother, father, sister and brother—would all wish me well, in having ‘finally’ arrived at this place. Indeed, this doctoral pursuit actually stretches back some thirty plus years. Formal studies to obtain a PhD actually began in 1986 at the Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KUL) in Louvain, Belgium. After successfully sitting the two required degrees by 1989, initial full acceptance as a PhD candidate in came in 1990. Fast forward two years: it was upon leaving Oxford University in 1992 with yet another (unmarketable) degree, that I promised myself I’d nonetheless return to academics for that elusive PhD: consciously suggesting, “next time in philosophy!” It has been a curious and unexpected journey to Sydney. Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to my dear late friend, Stephen Happel who first encouraged me to venture to Belgium and engage the academic world. He more than anyone iii helped me to see that the human intellect can be employed both to understand and to relieve human suffering. Again, less marketable, but potentially well suited for a ‘good life’! Oh, and yes. Thanks to the rather large unusually grey, white sulphur crested cockatoo (whose unique look has stifled Google search and confounded a few local veterinarians.) Your noisy interruptions on my balcony for daily food these past six months brought levity to an often serious, occasionally stressful intellectual project! iv Table of Contents Signed Title page i Abstract ii Acknowledgement iii Table of Contents v List of Tables and Figures ix CHAPTER ONE: Thesis Introduction 3 1.1 Thesis Précis 3 1.2 Why this Thesis? 4 1.3 An Interdisciplinary Project 6 1.4 Introducing the Thesis Three Part Structure 7 1.5 For Whom? Proposed Audience and Suggestions for Reading 9 Chapter One References 11 PART ONE: Identification of Bowlby’s Original Goals and Proposed Methods 12 CHAPTER TWO: Bowlby’s Proposed Radical Overhaul of Freud’s Metapsychology 13 2.0 Chapter Introduction 13 2.1 Identifying ‘Classical’ Psychoanalysis 15 2.2 Metapsychology within ‘Classical’ Psychoanalysis 20 2.3 Bowlby’s ‘Radical Overhaul’ of Freud’s Metapsychology 23 2.4 Attachment Theory and ‘Contemporary’ Psychoanalysis 26 2.5 Chapter Conclusion 34 Chapter Two References 35 CHAPTER THREE: Bowlby’s Approach: Tinbergen Meets Langer and Craik 45 3.0 Chapter Introduction 45 3.1 Identification of Bowlby’s implicit Tinbergen + Langer + Craik (TLC) Strategy 46 3.2 Bowlby’s Turn to Ethology and his Employment of Tinbergen’s “Four Problems” 47 3.3 Bowlby’s Curious Turn to Langer and Philosophy of Mind/Emotion 51 3.4 Bowlby’s Implicit Application of Craik’s IWMs 53 3.5 The Uniqueness of Bowlby’s TLC Formula 56 3.6 Bowlby’s Method and the Potential Value for a Re-articulation of Attachment Theory 59 v 3.7 A few Words about Phenomena, Theory and Data 62 3.8 Chapter Conclusion 63 Chapter Three References 64 PART TWO: A Philosophical and Historical Assessment of Attachment Theory 74 CHAPTER FOUR: Identification of Constructs of Attachment Theory 75 4.0 Chapter Introduction 75 4.1 What is (an) Attachment in Attachment Theory? 77 4.2 Identification of Attachment Constructs within a Tinbergen Framework 80 4.3 A Phylogenetic Construct (1) 82 4.4 Ontogenetic Constructs (2-6) 84 4.5 Functional Constructs (6-10) 92 4.6 Mechanistic Constructs (11-12) 100 4.7 An Organisational Construct: Combining Ontogeny, Function and Mechanism 107 4.8 Chapter Conclusion 108 Chapter Four References 109 CHAPTER FIVE: Understanding the conceptual evolution of Attachment Theory 125 5.0 Chapter Introduction 125 5.1 Aims for a History of Attachment Theory 126 5.2: Pre-theoretical Period: A First Recognition of Childhood Environmental Risk (1927- 1951) 127 5.3 ‘Maternal Deprivation’ and Subsequent Ethological Theory Development (ca. 1951– 1969) 130 5.4 Attachment Theory Maturation Period (1969-1990) 134 5.5 Post-Bowlby Exponential Multidimensional Expansion (1991-Present) 138 5.6 Chapter Conclusion 143 Chapter Five References 146 CHAPTER SIX: The Attachment Organisational Perspective: DLPC, DST and Implications for Psychiatry 160 6.0 Chapter Introduction 161 6.1 The Organisational Perspective Revisited 162 6.2. The Organisational Construct as a Dynamic Lifespan Personality Construct (DLPC) 164 vi 6.3 Attachment Organisational Construct Within a Developmental Systems Theory (DST) Perspective 168 6.4 A Few Conceptual Considerations Arising from the Organisational Perspective, DST and DLPC 170 6.5 Attachment within the RDoC: An Imperfect Fit but Hopeful Exercise 174 6.6 Specific Implications of Attachment as Organisation for Psychiatry 181 6.7 Chapter Conclusion 184 Chapter Six References 186 PART THREE A Rearticulation of Attachment Theory: the Goal-Corrected Partnership Revisited 195 CHAPTER SEVEN: The Goal-Corrected Partnership across the lifespan 196 7.0 Chapter Introduction 196 7.1 A Received Position Status for the GCP 197 7.2 Attachment as a Goal-Corrected Partnership (GCP): Bowlby’s Less Noticed Ideas
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