Bowlby's maternal deprivation theory Flashcards
Outline Bowlby’s research into maternal deprivation.
Procedure: carried out interviews with 44 juvenile thieves and families and compared to 44 non thieves.
Findings:
14/44 were diagnosed as affectionless psychopaths. This means they lacked guilt and lacked empathy.
12 of the 14 had experienced prolonged separations from their mothers during the critical period (6 months- 2.5 yrs.)
Conclusions:
1. Deprivation during the critical period causes long term emotional damage
2 . Deprivation negatively affects the IWM because we are affected by our first relationship with a caregiver which influences the nature of future relationships. WE have a negative schema.
3. Substitute care can limit the effects of deprivation. For example, taking your child to day care or hiring a nanny while you work.
4. Deprivation during the critical period led to a lower IQ and delayed emotional development (affectionless psychopathy).
5. Suggested the effects are irreversible.
Evaluate.
+ Research support:
Research has shown deprivation from just a day in rats led to permanent negative social effects. Harlow showed long term social effects in monkeys. Children who are LAC (Looked after children) are more likely to be involved in crime and go to prison
-Counterpoint: the long term effects demonstrated here and referred to by Bowlby are more likely due to privation (never formed a bond) rather than deprivation (disruption to bond)
+ Real world applications:
Children’s hospitals now have extended visitation hours. Social services now one or more caregivers if children are looked after in a home. Also focus on keeping parents together where possible. Schools now have a looked after register which gives them additional support.
-Counterpoint: - Real world examples have also contradicted Bowlby’s theory in that they suggest good aftercare can reverse some effects. e.g. Koluchova studied the Czech Twins who had suffered physical and emotional abuse (18 months -> 7 years old). The critical period is more a sensitive period
+Research support: Poor quality maternal care led to increased risk of psychopathy in adults
- Counterpoint: research into 500 young people found no association between early separation and later psychopathy
