Bowlby's Theory - Maternal Dep

Question 1

Bowlby - MDH

Answer 1

He suggested the nature of monotropy meant a failure to initiate, or a breakdown of maternal attachment would lead to serious negative consequences, possibly affectionless psychopathy.

Question 2

Separation –> Maternal Deprivation

Answer 2

1) Continuous emotional (maternal) care from mother/ mother-sub is necessary for normal emotional & intellectual development.
2) Bowlby believed mother-love in infancy is very important for mental health.

Question 3

Separation / Deprivation

Answer 3

Separation: child not being physically in presence of primary attachment figure.
Deprivation: losing emotional care as a result of separation - can be avoided if alternative emotional care is offered –> so separation doesn’t always cause deprivation.

Question 4

Critical Period

Answer 4

1) If child is separated from mother for extended time during first 2 1/2 yrs (there is a continuing risk up to age of 5) - psych damage is inevitable:

–> can lead to mental retardation ; Goldfarb found lower IQs in children from institutions than fostered children.

–> lack of emotional care cam lead to affectionless psychopathy - inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others, preventing developing normal relationships & is associated with criminality.

Question 5

Bowlby (1944) - 44 Thieves

Answer 5

1) Study in London Child Guidance Clinic from 1936-39 –> longitudinal study & biased sample - wanted to prove his theory was right.
2) Sample: 44 delinquent teens accused of theft - 31 boys & 13 girls –> gender bias.
3) Thieves were compared to 44 non-thieves from a delinquency centre.
4) Collected data via interviews & questionnaires form 88 pps.
5) All ‘thieves’ were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy characterised by lack of guilt, affection & empathy.
6) Families also interviewed to establish any prolonged separation from mothers.

Question 6

Bowlby (1944) - Findings

Answer 6

1) 15/44 thieves described as affectionless psychopaths - 17/44 experienced prolonged separation from mothers in critical period.
2) 2/44 non-thieves experiences such separation.
3) Suggesting, early prolonged separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy.
4) SO, findings support MDH, since there appears to be a link between disruption to attachments in first 5 years & later maladjustment.

Question 7

Bowlby’s Subsequent Research

Answer 7

1) 60 children who’d spent time apart from mothers due to tuberculosis prior to age 4, demonstrated lower achievement in school.
2) Findings indicate that experiencing disrupted attachments earl in life is linked to crime, emotional maladjustment, lower achievement, lending strong support for MDH.

Question 8

Limitation - Bowlby

Answer 8

EVIDENCE FOR MDH IS FLAWED

1) 44 Thieves study is flawed cause it was open to bias - Bowlby himself assessed both deprivation & psychopathy, knowing what he hoped to find –> means he originally had no solid evidence to base his theory of maternal dep on.

Question 9

Limitation - Bowlby

Answer 9

CONFUSED DEPRIVATION & PRIVATION

1) Rutter made distinction between deprivation (separation from an AF) & privation (failure to form an attachment) - privation has more serious affects.
2) So, children he studied may have had privation rather than deprivation –> Bowlby probably exaggerated effects of deprivation on development.

Question 10

Limitation - Bowlby

Answer 10

CRITICAL PERIOD IS MORE OF SENSITIVE PERIOD

1) Koluchova conducted a case study of Czech twin boys isolated from age 18 months (locked in a cupboard) - were later looked after by 2 loving adults appeared to recover fully.
2) Shows severe deprivation can have positive outcomes provided child has some social interaction & good aftercare –> So period Bowlby identified may be a ‘sensitive’ one but cannot be critical.