attachment - bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

define maternal deprivation (2 marks)

Answer 1

• intellectual and emotional consequences as a result of extended separation between child and mother/mother substitute (1 MARK)
• where child loses element of care within the critical period (2 MARKS)

Question 2

seperation

Answer 2

absence of primary caregiver

Question 3

deprivation

Answer 3

loss of element of mother care through extended separation which may cause harm

Question 4

maternal deprivation - AO1
intro

Answer 4

• bowlby suggested that continued nurture from mother through critical period (first 2.5 years of life) is important for healthy psychological development
• extended separation where element of mother care lost = inevitable and irreversible psychological damage
• 2 types of psychological damage = emotional and intellectual damage

Question 5

intellectual damage - AO1

Answer 5

• intellectual damage = cognitive impairment such as intellectual delay
• shown by low IQ
• Goldfarb found lower IQ in institutionalised children (less emotional care) compared to fostered children (more emotional care)

Question 6

emotional damage - AO1

Answer 6

• affectionless psychopathy = inability to have guilt/strong emotions for others
• prevents developing normal relationships
• associated with criminality
• lack remorse

Question 7

research to support - AO3
bowlby’s juvenile thieves

Answer 7

P - research to support
- bowlby’s juvenile thieves

E - opportunity sample = 44 juvenile thieves
- interviewed to see if they had signs of affectionless psychopathy
- interviewed mothers to see if they had extended separation during critical period

E - those with affectionless psychopathy = extended periods of separation in early childhood

L - supports theory of maternal deprivation
- extended separation = negative consequences e.g. emotional damage

Question 8

Criticism - AO3
retrospective data of bowlby’s thieves study

ONLY USE IF RESEARCH TO SUPPORT PEEL WAS USED

Answer 8

P - criticism
- bowlby’s juvenile thieves
- retrospective (past) data

E - relies on memories of mothers to recall if there was extended periods of separation during childhood

E - may have forgotten/lied

L - reduces internal validity
- weakens research to support

Question 9

Research to contradict - AO3
Lewis (1954)

THINK FURTHER

Answer 9

P - research to contradict
- Lewis 1954

E - partially replicated juvenile thieves study
- larger scale with 500 young people

E - found that prolonged separation did not predict criminality/difficulty forming close relationships

L - contradicts bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

THINK FURTHER
- bowlby = opportunity sample with families
- open to bias
- may explain differing results

Question 10

Strength - AO3
practical applications

THINK FURTHER

Answer 10

P - strength
- practical applications

E - principles of theory = extended separation can lead to negative consequences
- led to changes in society

E - e.g. hospital visiting times changed to overnight
- to prevent long periods separation which can lead to emotional/intellectual damage e.g. affectionless psychopathy

L - important part of applied psych

THINK FURTHER
- appropriate to make economic implications e.g. less criminal activity
- saves tax payers money