attachment - Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation Flashcards
theory of maternal deprivation: AO1 points (1)
- seperation VS deprivation
- critical period
- effects of maternal deprivation
theory AO1: seperation VS deprivation (2)
- seperation: child not being in physical presence of primary CG
- deprivation: losing emotional care due to extended periods of seperation
theory AO1: critical period (2)
- first 30 months of life
- maternal deprivation during those first 30 months = failure to form an attachment w a primary CG
effects of maternal deprivation (2)
- affectionless psychopathy (not caring how actions affect others)
- abnormally low IQ
Theory AO3 points (3)
✅ wider implications of the theory, eg for institutional care
- aware of the effects of maternal deprivation
- work to ensure that each child has one main carer that provides this emotional care that has been absent from childs life
- prevent further complications or try reverse them as best as possible
- aware of the specific effects so can create specific interventions to target the low IQ and affectionless psychopathy
❌ failure to distinguish between deprivation and privation (Rutter)
- deprivation refers to loss of primary attachment after an attchment figure has developed
- privation = failure to form any attachment in the first place
- this may take place when children are brought up in institutional care
- rutter pointed out that severe long term damage bowlby associated w deprivation is acc a result of privation
- Bowlby may have overestimated seriousness of effects of deprivation in childrens development
- in addition many of the adolescents in 44 thieves study had distrupted early lives and may never have been able to form strong attachments
✅ research support for effects of maternal deprivation - Bowlby’s 44 thieves
- 14/44 thieves diagnosed w affectionless psychopathy
- 12/14 experienced prolonged seperation from their mother
- shows that depriving mother of primary carer has very harmful and long lasting effects
