Bolwby (Psychodynamic/Individualstic)

Question 1

What did Bolwby define crime as?

Answer 1

Lack of parent-child bond. He believed maternal deprivation is a cause of criminality.

Question 2

What is maternal deprivation and how does it relate to crime?

Answer 2

This is when a child lacks/loses a primary figure (around the age of 5), and grows up without a maternal figure. This relates to crime because in many real life cases, such as Jeffrey Dahmer, the criminal’s primary figure is non-existent, neglectful or abusive. This then leads to them not being able to form attachments or emotions towards anyone. This is also known as a psychopath.

Question 3

How many juvenile delinquents did Bowlby do a study of?

Answer 3

44 (thieves)

Question 4

Strengths (1 in detail).

Answer 4

1. He shows the need to consider the role of parent-child relationships in explaining criminality.
2. There is a correlation between those who lacked parent figures and those who did not.
3. His work showed that more of his sample of 44 thieves had suffered maternal deprivation (39%) than a control group of non-delinquents (5%).

Question 5

Weaknesses (1 in detail).

Answer 5

1. Overestimates how far early childhood experiences have a permanent effect on later behaviour.
2. Retrospective study, where delinquents and their mothers had to accurately recall past events, often upsetting.
3. Accounts for the delinquency of 39% (maternally deprived), but doesn’t explain the other 61% and why they were delinquent. Shows that deprivation can’t be the only cause.
4. Bowlby’s later study of 60 children who had been separated from their parents for long periods before they were 5 and found no evidence of ‘affection-less psychotherapy’.