Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation Flashcards
What is maternal deprivation?
The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/her mother or mother-substitute.
Maternal deprivation can lead to significant developmental issues in children.
Who proposed the theory of maternal deprivation?
Bowlby
Bowlby emphasized the importance of a continuous mother figure for healthy psychological development.
What does Bowlby suggest is essential for normal psychological development?
Continuous care from a mother.
Bowlby believed that this care is crucial for emotional security.
What are the consequences of prolonged separation from a mother figure, according to Bowlby?
Serious damage to emotional and intellectual development.
This damage can manifest in various behavioral and cognitive issues.
Who is known for the monotropic theory of attachment?
John Bowlby
What is the main premise of Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
The continual presence of care from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal psychological development of babies and toddlers
According to Bowlby, what is as important for mental health as vitamins and proteins are for physical health?
‘Mother-love in infancy and childhood’
What are the serious consequences of being separated from a mother in early childhood?
Maternal deprivation
What is the distinction between separation and deprivation?
Separation means not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure; deprivation involves the lack of emotional care
Under what conditions can separation lead to deprivation?
If the child is deprived of emotional care, even if the mother is present
What type of separations are not significant for development?
Brief separations with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care
What did Bowlby identify as a critical period for psychological development?
The first two-and-a-half years of life
What happens if a child is deprived of maternal emotional care during the critical period?
Psychological damage is inevitable
What impact does maternal deprivation have on intellectual development?
Delayed intellectual development, characterized by abnormally low IQ
What did William Goldfarb’s study (1947) reveal about children in institutions?
They had lower IQ compared to those who were fostered with higher emotional care
What is affectionless psychopathy?
The inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others
What are the consequences of affectionless psychopathy?
Prevents developing fulfilling relationships and is associated with criminality
In Bowlby’s thieves study, what was the sample comprised of?
44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing
What characteristics were assessed to identify affectionless psychopathy in the study?
Lack of affection, lack of guilt, and lack of empathy
How many of the 44 thieves were identified as affectionless psychopaths?
14
How many of the affectionless psychopaths had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers?
12
What did Bowlby conclude from his 44 thieves study?
Prolonged early separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
What is one limitation of the theory of maternal deprivation?
The poor quality of the evidence it is based on
Bowlby’s 44 thieves study is flawed due to potential bias as Bowlby conducted both interviews and assessments.
Who conducted a flawed study that influenced Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Goldfarb
Goldfarb’s 1943 research faced issues with confounding variables due to early trauma and institutional care.
What did Frederic Lévy et al. (2003) find in their research related to maternal deprivation?
Separating baby rats from their mother for as little as a day had a permanent effect on their social development
This research suggests modest support for the idea that maternal deprivation can have long-term effects.
What distinction did Michael Rutter (1981) make regarding early negative experiences?
Deprivation and privation
Deprivation refers to the loss of an attachment figure, while privation refers to the failure to form any attachment.
What is deprivation according to Michael Rutter?
The loss of the primary attachment figure after attachment has developed
This is different from privation, which is the failure to form any attachment.
What does privation refer to?
The failure to form any attachment in the first place
This often occurs in children raised in institutional care.
What did Rutter suggest about the severe long-term damage associated with deprivation?
It is actually more likely to be the result of privation
Bowlby’s association of severe damage with deprivation may be an overestimation.
What is the critical period according to Bowlby?
The first two-and-a-half years of life when attachment must be formed
Damage is considered inevitable if attachment is not formed during this time.
What evidence challenges Bowlby’s critical period concept?
Good quality aftercare can prevent most or all damage
Jarmila Koluchová (1976) reported that the Czech Twins recovered fully after severe privation due to excellent care.
What case did Jarmila Koluchová (1976) study that is relevant to the critical period?
The Czech Twins
The twins experienced severe abuse but recovered with excellent aftercare.
How is the ‘critical period’ better understood in light of recent evidence?
As a ‘sensitive period’
Lasting harm is not inevitable, suggesting a more flexible understanding of attachment development.
