Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation Flashcards
What is maternal deprivation?
The emotional/intellectual consequences of separation between his / her mother or mother substitute.
What did Bowlby propose?
That continual care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development (good mental health).
Prolonged separation from this adult causes serious damage to emotional and intellectual development.
What is separation?
The child not being in the presence of the primary caregiver. Brief separations, particularly where the child has a substitute caregiver are not significant for development.
What is deprivation?
Separation only becomes an issue when the child is deprived i.e., loses an element of care. Extended separations lead to deprivation, where there has been a loss of an element of care. This causes harm.
What is the critical period?
Bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for psychological development. If a child is separated from their mother in the absence of suitable substitute care and so deprived of her emotional care for an extended period during this critical period, then (Bowlby believed) psychological damage was inevitable.
What are the two effects on development?
Effects on IQ (intellect):
Children who have been deprived usually suffer from learning difficulties and or unusually low IQ.
Goldfarb, lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions compared to those we were fostered.
Emotional Development:
Affectionless psychopathy- inability to feel emotions such as guilt/remorse towards others (linked to criminal activity).
Affects their ability to form relationships.
Don’t understand the emotions of others-lack empathy.
What did Bowlby do, find and conclude?
44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy e.g., lack of affection/guilt. Families also interviewed to establish if any separation had occurred.
Control groups of non-criminals but emotionally disturbed young people were also used.
14/44 were classified as being “affectionless psychopaths”.
12 of the 14 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers in the first two years of their life.
2/44 of the control group had experienced long term separation.
They concluded that prolonged early separation from their mothers had caused affectionless psychopathy.
What are the strengths of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Harlow’s research supports Bowly’s theory of maternal deprivation. Both Harlow & Bowly highlight the importance of the critical period and that failure to form an attachment within that time causes permanent damage. Monkeys- aggressive & isolative. Humans-affectionless psychopaths & criminal behaviour. This is a strength of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation because..
the research that supports maternal deprivation theory is from a natural experiment. Bowlby’s 44 thieves study was classed as a natural study. Uses a naturally occurring IV. Bowlby was able to study something that wouldn’t normally be able to be studied. Children had already been separated from their mothers before the study took place. This is a strength because…
What are the limitations of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
A weakness of Bowly’s maternal deprivation is possible research bias. Bowlby himself carried out the assessments for affectionless psychopathy & the family interviews knowing what he hoped to find. Researcher/Interviewer bias- Bowlby could have been looking for responses that supported this theory. He additionally could have used leading questions to get the responses he wanted. This is a weakness because…
Issues with the critical period. The Koluchova Twins/Czech Twins- twin boys that were isolated from the age of 18 months to 7 years by their step-mother. Locked in a cupboard- physically & intellectually damaged when found. Now they live “normal” lives- married, attended university, have good jobs. Issues with critical period because the twins contradict the critical period as they have been able to develop normally despite what happened in their early childhood. This is a weakness because suggests that Bowlby’s suggestions may not be accurate, the critical period may be a sensitive period but not one that’s necessarily critical for development.
