Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation - Attachment

Question 1

Deprivation

Answer 1

The loss of emotional care normally provided by a primary caregiver.

Question 2

Spitz and Wolf (1946)
Skodak and Skeels (1949)

Answer 2

Studies in the 1930s–1940s showed that children separated from families suffered emotionally and intellectually.

Question 3

Theory of Maternal Deprivation:
Value of Maternal Care:

Answer 3

Bowlby highlighted importance of emotional care for normal development, not just physical care.
Maternal care likened to vitamins, essential for mental and physical health.

Question 4

Theory of Maternal Deprivation:
Critical Period

Answer 4

Prolonged separation before age 2–2.5 years (without a substitute caregiver) could lead to irreversible emotional damage.

Question 5

Theory of Maternal Deprivation:
Long-Term Consequences
EM

Answer 5

Emotional maladjustment and mental health issues, including depression, can result from deprivation.

Question 6

44 Juvenile Thieves (Bowlby, 1944):
Procedure

Answer 6

44 emotionally maladjusted children were thieves, with some showing affectionless psychopathy (lack of affection, shame, or guilt).

Question 7

44 Juvenile Thieves (Bowlby, 1944):
Findings

Answer 7

86% of affectionless thieves experienced frequent separations from mothers, compared to 17% of other thieves.
Suggests early separations linked to affectionless psychopathy and criminal behaviour.