Attachment: Bowlbys Theory Of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

What is maternal deprivation

Answer 1

• emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/her mother or substitute mother
• bowlby proposed continuous care from a mother figure is essential

Question 2

What is the difference between separation and deprivation

Answer 2

• separation - child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure
• separation can become deprivation if the child loses an element of the mother care, extended separations can lead to deprivation which can cause harm

Question 3

What is the critical period according to bowlby

Answer 3

• first 30 months of life are a critical period for ‘psychological development’

Question 4

What effects on intellectual development can maternal deprivation have

Answer 4

• bowlby believed if a child was deprived of maternal care for too long, they would suffer delayed intellectual development
• characterised by abnormally low IQ
• supporting studies have found lower levels of IQ in children who had remained in institutions

Question 5

What effects on emotional development can maternal deprivation have

Answer 5

• bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as the inability to experience guilt/strong emotions for others
• this prevents a person developing normal relationships

Question 6

What was the aim of bowlbys 44 thieves study

Answer 6

• to examine the link between affection less psychopathy and maternal deprivation

Question 7

What was the procedure of bowlbys 44 thieves study

Answer 7

• sample = 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing, all ‘thieves’ interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy
• families also interviewed to establish if there had been prolonged early separations from mother
• control group of non emotionally disturbed young people were set up to compare data

Question 8

What were the findings of bowlbys 44 thieves study

Answer 8

• found 14/44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths
• f this 14, 12 had experienced early prolonged separation from their mothers in the first 2 years of their life
• in the control group 2/44 had experienced long term separation

Question 9

What are the three evaluation points for Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 9

• evidence may be poor
• counter evidence for 44 thieves study
• critical period is more of a ‘sensitive period’

Question 10

Outline ‘evidence may be poor’ as an evaluation point for bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 10

• bowlby used number of sources as evidence for maternal deprivation such as children orphaned during ww2, those in poor quality orphanages etc
• however, war orphans were traumatised + often had poor aftercare - these may not have been because of early separation
• children growing up in Care were deprived of all elements of care, not just maternal

Question 11

Outline ‘counter evidence for 44 thieves study’ as an evaluation point for bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 11

• Lewis - replicated the 44 thieves study on a larger scale + found a history of early prolonged separation from mothers did not predict criminality/difficulty forming close relationships

Question 12

Outline ‘critical period is more of a ‘sensitive period’ as an evaluation point for bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 12

• bowlby used the term ‘critical period’ because he believed prolonged separation inevitably causes damage if it occurs in that period
• some cases of severe deprivation have has good outcomes providing the child has good aftercare
• koluchovca - twin boys isolated from 18 months to 7 years old, afterwards they were looked after by 2 caring adults and fully recovered