Bowlby’s Theory Of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
What is Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis?
Continual care from the mother or mother substitute is essential for normal psychological development of babies and toddler both intellectually and emotionally.
Being separated from the other in early childhood can have severe consequences.
‘Mother love in infancy is as important for mental heath as vitamins and proteins for physical health’
What is the critical period for psychological development in the maternal deprivation hypothesis.
2-2.5 years
If a child is separated from the mother and is without substitute care for an extended duration in this period then psychological damage is inevitable.
What are the intellectual effects of maternal deprivation?
Maternal deprivation in the critical period causes delayed intellectual development and low IQ.
Goldfarb (1947) found that institutionalized children had lower IQs (68) than children in foster care (96) where the level of emotional care is higher.
What are the emotional effects of maternal deprivation?
Increased likelihood of emotionless psychopathy - inability to experience guilt or strong emotions towards others.
They don’t develop normal relationships and are associated with criminality.
Study outline for Bowlby’s 44 thieves
44 thieves study (1944)
- this study examined the link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
- 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing were interviewed for affectionless psychopathy.
- families of thieves were also interviewed to establish if the thieves had experienced prolonged early separations from their mothers.
- this sample was compared to a control group of 44 non-criminal teenagers
Findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study
- 14 of the 44 thieves were classed as emotionless psychopaths
- 12 of the 14 thieves had had prolonged early separations
- 5 of the other 30 had had prolonged early separations
- only 2 of the 44 controls had had prolonged early separations.
Conclusion - maternal deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
Supporting evidence for maternal deprivation hypothesis
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944)
- criminal teenagers had separations and others didn’t
Levy et al (2003)
-baby’s rats separated from their mothers for little as a day
- this had a permanent effect on their social development but not on other aspects
Lewis (1954)
- partially replicated 44 thieves with a larger sample (500)
- a history of deprivation didn’t predict criminality or difficulty forming close relationships.
Evaluative points for maternal deprivation hypothesis
Strength - natural experiment is the most appropriate
Limitation - limitations of using a natural experiment
Strength - supporting evidence furlong term effects of maternal deprivation
Strength - use of a natural experiment most appropriate
(Maternal deprivation hypothesis)
Bowlby’s use of a natural experiment is the most appropriate research method to investigate the relationship between MD and emotional, social and intellectual development. The independent variable (whether the teenagers had been maternally deprived) occurred naturally which allowed Bowlby to investigate a real life problem with minimal interference. It would have been unethical for Bowlby to manipulate the IV to investigate his hypothesis. Additionally, the use of interviews would have provided rich data and allowed Bowlby to gain an in depth understanding about the relationship between MD and the development of his participants.
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