Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory Flashcards
What did Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory suggested ?
Children come into the world biologically programmed to form attachments with others, because this will help them survive and so a child has an innate need to attach to one main attachment figure. Therefore there is a critical period for developing attachment ( up to the age of 5) and so if a attachment has not developed during this time period then it may not happen at all.
What did Bowlby say not developing an attachment leads to?
Leads to the child having long term social and emotional difficulties known as “affectionless psychopathy”
What is meant by Bowlby’s claim that there is a link between maternal deprivation and anti social behaviour?
Our way of understanding the world, society and socially acceptable behaviours are based in the relationships with have with our primary caregivers as an infant, if the relationship is damaged then affectionless psychopathy will lead to criminal behaviour.
What are some evaluations of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Strengths-it shows importance of parent-child relationships in explaining criminality.
Limitation- it is a retrospective study as participants had to actively recall the past.
