Bowlby’s 44 Thieves Study (1944)

Question 1

Aim of the study?

Answer 1

Test effects of separation on children’s emotional wellbeing

Question 2

Procedure of study?

Answer 2

44 criminals were interviewed for signs of affection less psychopathy
Their families were also interviewed whether the thieves have prolonged early separation from mama
Control group of 44 non criminals who were emotionally disturbed were tested to see how often they had maternal deprivation

Question 3

Finding ?

Answer 3

14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths
12/14 thieves had prolonged separation
Control group 2/44 had experienced long separation

Question 4

Evaluation : practical application

Answer 4

Useful in the real world as now have maternity leave for 52 weeks to be able to form good attachment with the baby to allow for good intellectual and emotional development and wellbeing
Mothers are able to stay with children in hospitals to not be separated from them for a long period of time

Question 5

Evaluation : Temporal validity

Answer 5

Study conducted in 1944
Very long time ago and many factors in our life has changed so not generalisable for today’s life
Biased - he knew the children before: may have written down things which weren’t said in the interview but what he already knew about their life’s.