Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

Describe Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation

Answer 1

This theory focuses on the idea that the continual presence of care from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal psychological development
of babies and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually. Being separated from a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal deprivation)

Question 2

What is maternal deprivation?

Answer 2

the emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/her mother or mother-substitute. Bowlby proposed that continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development, and that prolonged separation from this adult causes serious damage to emotional and intellectual development.

Question 3

Give a simple definition of maternal deprivation

Answer 3

The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and their mother.

Question 4

What does separation mean?

Answer 4

The child not being in the presences of the primary attachment figure.

Question 5

When does separation become a problem?

Answer 5

This only becomes a problem if the child becomes deprived of emotional care (which can happen even if a mother is present but depressed). Brief separations, particularly where the child is with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care, are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to deprivation, which causes harm.

Question 6

What is the difference between separation and deprivation?

Answer 6

Separation is not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure whereas deprivation is not given maternal care.

Question 7

What did Bowlby say the critical period was?

Answer 7

He saw the first 2.5 years of life as a critical period for psychological development.

Question 8

What happens if a child is deprived of emotional care during the critical period?

Answer 8

Psychological damage was inevitable. He also believed there was a continuing risk up to the age of 5.

Question 9

What 2 types of development are affected by maternal deprivation?

Answer 9

Intellectual and Emotional

Question 10

How is intellectual development affected?

Answer 10

Bowlby said if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period they would experience delayed intellectual development, characterised by abnormally low IQ. This has been demonstrated in studies of adoption.

Question 11

Give an example of a study that shows how intellectual development is affected by maternal deprivation

Answer 11

William Goldfarb (1947) found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher standard of emotional care.

Question 12

How is emotional development affected?

Answer 12

Bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others. This prevents a person developing
fulfilling relationships and is associated with criminality.

Question 13

What does affectionless psychopathy mean?

Answer 13

A person can’t develop normal relationships.

Question 14

What can’t’ affectionless psychopaths do?

Answer 14

They can’t appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their actions.

Question 15

What was Bowlby’s research of?

Answer 15

44 thieves study to examine the link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation.

Question 16

Describe the sample

Answer 16

The sample consisted of 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing.

Question 17

Describe the procedure

Answer 17

• All thieves were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy: characterised as a lack of affection, lack of guilt about their actions and lack
  of empathy for their victims.
• Their families were also interviewed in order to establish whether the ‘thieves’ had prolonged early separations from their mothers.
• The sample was compared to a control group of 44 non-criminal but emotionally-disturbed young people.

Question 18

What did Bowlby find?

Answer 18

Found that 14 of the 44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths and 12 of these had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers
in the first 2 years of their lives. In contrast only 5 of the remaining 30 ‘thieves’ had experienced separations. Only 2 participants in the control group of 44 had experienced long separations.

Question 19

What did Bowlby conclude?

Answer 19

That prolonged early separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy.