Bowlby's 44 thieves

Question 1

what was this study based on?

Answer 1

the findings of his theory of maternal deprivation

Question 2

what was his Aim?

Answer 2

to investigate the long-term consequences of prolonged emotional deprivation.

Question 3

what was his procedure?

Answer 3

• analysed case histories of his patients in the child guidance clinic, London. all children were emotionally maladjusted.
• 88 children studied- 44 had been caught stealing, the other half was the control group. Bowlby described some thieves as ‘affectionless psychopaths’.

Question 4

what were his findings?

Answer 4

• none of the control group experienced any early separation from their mothers
• those individuals described as affectionless psychopaths had experienced frequent early separations from their mothers

Question 5

what did Bowlby conclude?

Answer 5

• early separations are linked to affectionless psychopathy.

- A lack of continuous care may cause emotional maladjustment or mental disorders.

Question 6

what is meant by affectionless psychopaths?

Answer 6

• people who lack signs of affection, shame and responsibilities
  
  • these characteristics allowed them to be thieves.
    - stealing from others didn’t matter to them