> attachment: maternal deprivation hypothesis Flashcards
outline MDH
-Bowlbys theory of monotropy suggets that development of psychological attachments depends on the bonds formed between infants + mothers
-MDH explains what happens if these attachment bonds are broken
-Bowlby argues that disruption of these bonds, even short term, results in permanent damage to a childs emotional, intellectual + social development
disruption can occur in 3 ways, what are they?
-short term separation
-long term deprivation
-privation
short term separation?
-brief temporary separations from attachment figures
-eg daycare, being left with a baby sitter, short term hospitalisation
-Bowlby described distress as PDD model:
-protest, immediate reaction to separation involves kicking, crying, screaming, clinging to mother to prevent her leaving. outward, direct expression of child’s anger, fear, confusion
-despair, protest replaced by calmer ,more apathetic behaviour. anger + fear still felt inwardly, little response to comfort + instead child comforts itself (thumb sucking)
-detattachment, child responds to everyone again, but responds warily. rejection of caregiver upon return is common, as are signs of anger
research into short term separation?
-Robertson’s filmed various children under the age of 3 during short separations
-John, who had close + stable relationship with his mother spent 9 days in a residential nursery whilst mother was having another baby
-staff had little time to attend to his personal needs
-film showed John being overwhelmed by strange situation + clinging to teddy when frightened
-he progressively became withdrawn + despairing, when his mother came to collect him, he tried to get away from her
-continued for months to show outbursts of anger towards his mother
-negative effects of this separation was seen years later
-John appeared to go through the 3 stages of the PDD model, suffering, serious, irreversible damage -> supporting Bowlbys theory of MDH
follow up?
-several other children filmed, whilst Robertson, a foster mother, cared for them in own home
-children able to visit their mothers in hospital, bring things home from them + maintain emotional bond during separation
-they welcome their parents at the end of their stay
-separation need not lead to deprivation as long as separation is minimised + substitute emotional care is provided
long term deprivation?
-involves lengthy/permanent separations from attachment figures
-include death, imprisonment/adoption by different caregivers
research into long term deprivation? schaffer + Hetherington
-schaffer found that nearly all children are negatively affected by divorce short term, though Hetherington + Stanley-Hagan found that only 25% experience long term adjustment problems, with most children able to adapt, suggesting outcomes are more short-term weakening support for MDH
research into long term deprivation? Rodger
-Rodgers + Pryor, found that children experiencing 2/more divorces have the lowest adjustment rates + most behavioural problems. suggesting that continual broken attachments increase chances of negative outcomes for children , supporting MDH
evaluation- advantages?
-long term deprivation has a greater negative long term affect on children than short term separation, with research supporting this
-richards, found that attachment disruption through divorce leads to resentment + stress, while death of an attachment figure is more likely to result in depression than delinquency. implying that deprivation through different causes produces different outcomes
-research allowed psychologists to come up with coping strategies for divorce eg in America, parents who are divorcing sometimes have to attend an educational programme teaching them to understand + avoid difficulties associated with disrupted attachments, eg providing emotional support + warmth and keeping consistent rules
improvements from Bowlbys findings?
-1950s parents discouraged form visiting their children as it causes too much stress
-nowadays parents are encouraged to visit their children + stay overnight as it prevents emotional deprivation + promoting quicker recovery
