Bowlby’s Theory Of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

What is Maternal deprivation theory?

Answer 1

• Explanation of the emotional and intellectual consequences of disrupting attachment bonds that sees serious, permanent damage to children’s development.

Question 2

What is Separation?

Answer 2

• Short-term disruptions of an attachment bond.

Question 3

What is Deprivation?

Answer 3

• Long-term disruption of an attachment bond.

Question 4

What is a critical period?

Answer 4

• A specific time within which an attachment must form if it is to form at all.

Question 5

What is an ‘Affectionless Psychopath’?

Answer 5

• A term used by Bowlby to describe people who do not show concern or affection for other people and show no, or very little, remorse or guilt.

Question 6

What did Bowlby believe the effects of maternal deprivation during the critical period would have of Intellectual development?

Answer 6

• They would suffer from delayed intellectual development, characterized by abnormally low IQ.

Question 7

What did Bowlby believe the effects of maternal deprivation during the critical period would have of Emotional development?

Answer 7

• There is a risk of affectional psychopathy developing.
• Includes lack of empathy for others and a lack of shame or sense of responsibility.
• They act on impulse with little regard for consequences of their actions (no guilt for antisocial behavior).

Question 8

What did Bowlby investigate into in Maternal deprivation?

Answer 8

• To investigate whether the cause of juvenile delinquency could be linked to maternal deprivation.

Question 9

What was Bowlby’s procedure in maternal deprivation?

Answer 9

• 88 children sample was selected from a clinic where we worked.
• 44 of them were thieves (31 boys and 13 girls) the other 44 were a control group (34 boys and 10 girls).
• They were referred due to emotional problems but were not criminals.
• The two groups were matched for age and IQ.
• Records were taken of their early lives - period of separation by a social worker, psychiatrist and a psychologist.

Question 10

What were Bowlby’s findings in maternal deprivation?

Answer 10

• 14 of the thieves were identified as affectionless psychopaths and 12 out of 14 of them had experienced prolonged separation of more than six months from their mothers in the first two years of their life.
• Out of the control group, only 2 experienced prolonged separations and none were classified as affectionless psychopaths.
• His conclusion was that the results supported his theory and that 86% of the children classified as affectionless psychopaths who has experience maternal deprivation during the critical period.