Bowlby's theory of material deprivation

Question 1

What did John Bowlby (1951,1953) theory propose?

Answer 1

emotional deprivation would have long term consequences in terms of emotional development

Question 2

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What/ who did Bowlby analyse?

Answer 2

The case studies of a number of his patients in the Child Guidence Clinic in London where he worked

Question 3

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
How many children did he study?

Answer 3

88

Question 4

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What was the independent variable?

Answer 4

Half (44) had been caught stealing

Half were a control group

Question 5

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What did Bowlby suggest about the thieves?

Answer 5

That they were affectionless psychopaths

Question 6

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What did Bowlby find about those who had been diagnosed as affectionless thieves?

Answer 6

They had suffered early separations from their mothers

86% of the affectionless experienced frequent separations
Compared with 17% of other thieves

Question 7

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What did Bowlby find about the control group?

Answer 7

None of the participants experienced early separations

Question 8

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What percentage of thieves experienced early separation?

Answer 8

39%

Question 9

Key Study: 44 juvenile thieves
Bowlby (1944)
What do Bowlby’s findings suggest?

Answer 9

Early separations are linked to affectionless psychopathy

Question 10

Physical and emotional separation

Answer 10

when discussing deprovation many people think it is associated with physical separation but it may be related to emotional separation
A mother who is depressed may be physically present, yet unable to provide suitable emotional care
Emotional separation can also lead to deprivation

Question 11

Real world application

Answer 11

Positive impacts on post-war thinking about childrearing and also on how children looked after in hospitals
Children separated from parents when tey spent time in hosiptals. Visiting was discouraged or even forbidden
Robertson (1952)
Changes to society in the way that children were cared for in hospitals

Question 12

Individual differences

Answer 12

Not all children are affected by emotional disruption in the same way
Barrett (1997) securely attached children cope well whereas insecurely attached children become especially distressed
Extraneous variables