Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Theory

Question 1

What does Bowlby argue?

Answer 1

There is a link between maternal deprivation and deviant or antisocial behaviour

Question 2

What parental attachment does a child need and till when to develop normally?

Answer 2

A child needs a close, continuous relationship with it’s primary carer from birth to the age of 5

Question 3

What happens if the primary carer & child attachment is broken?

Answer 3

If it’s broken through separation, even for a short period, it can leave the child unable to form meaningful emotional relationships with others

Question 4

What does Bowlby name it when a child is separated from their primary carer?

Answer 4

Affectionless psychopathy

Question 5

What evidence is there to Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory?

Answer 5

In a group of 44 juvenile thieves Bowlby found 39% experienced maternal deprivation whereas only 5% of the control group who weren’t criminals experienced maternal deprivation