Attachment- Bowlby's theory of material deprivation Flashcards
Maternal deprivation -
The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/ her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development, and that prolonged separation from this adult causes serious damage to emotional and intellectual development.
What is Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby’s theory states that continuous nurture from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal psychological development in babies and toddlers, and separation from the mother can lead to serious consequences.
What is the difference between separation and deprivation in Bowlby’s theory?
Separation means the child is not in the presence of the primary attachment figure, while deprivation occurs when the child loses an element of care. Brief separations are not harmful, but extended separations can lead to deprivation and psychological damage.
What is the critical period in Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby identified the first 30 months of life as a critical period. Prolonged separation from the mother during this time, without suitable substitute care, can cause irreversible psychological damage.
How does maternal deprivation affect intellectual development?
Bowlby believed that prolonged maternal deprivation during the critical period could lead to delayed intellectual development, characterized by abnormally low IQ, as seen in studies of institutionalized children.
What is affectionless psychopathy, and how is it linked to maternal deprivation?
Affectionless psychopathy is the inability to experience guilt or strong emotions for others, preventing normal relationships and often associated with criminality. Bowlby linked it to prolonged maternal deprivation.
What was the procedure of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
Bowlby studied 44 teenage thieves, interviewing them for signs of affectionless psychopathy and their families to determine if they had experienced prolonged maternal separation. A control group of emotionally disturbed non-criminals was also studied.
What were the findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
14 of the 44 thieves were classified as affectionless psychopaths, and 12 of these had experienced prolonged maternal separation. Only 2 out of 44 in the control group had similar separations, suggesting a link between maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy.
What are the limitations of Bowlby’s evidence for maternal deprivation?
Studies of war orphans and institutionalized children are flawed due to trauma and poor aftercare. The 44 thieves study had design flaws, including bias, as Bowlby conducted the assessments knowing what he hoped to find.
What counter-evidence challenges Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Hilda Lewis (1954) found that early prolonged separation did not predict criminality or relationship difficulties in a larger sample, suggesting other factors may influence outcomes.
Why is the critical period considered more of a sensitive period?
Later research showed that damage from deprivation is not inevitable. Cases like Koluchová’s (1976) study of twin boys who recovered after severe deprivation suggest the period is sensitive, not critical.
How do animal studies support the theory of maternal deprivation?
Levy et al. (2003) found that separating baby rats from their mother for even a day had permanent effects on their social development, supporting the idea that maternal deprivation can have long-term consequences.
What is the distinction between deprivation and privation according to Michael Rutter?
Deprivation refers to the loss of the primary attachment figure after attachment has formed, while privation is the failure to form any attachment. Rutter argued that severe long-term damage is more likely due to privation.
How could Rutter’s distinction improve Bowlby’s theory?
Rutter’s distinction clarifies that the severe effects Bowlby associated with deprivation may actually result from privation, refining the theory and focusing on the importance of forming initial attachments.
To what extent can animal studies support the theory of maternal deprivation?
Animal studies provide some support by showing long-term effects of maternal separation, but their applicability to humans is limited due to differences in social and emotional development.
What are the implications of the sensitive period for Bowlby’s theory?
The idea of a sensitive period suggests that while early maternal deprivation can have significant effects, recovery is possible with appropriate care, challenging Bowlby’s notion of an irreversible critical period.
