Bowlby’s Theory Of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
What does maternal deprivation focus on?
The idea that the continual presence of care from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal psychological development both emotionally and intellectually.
What does being separated from a mother in early childhood have?
Serious consequences.
What does separation mean?
The child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure.
When does separation become a problem?
If the child becomes deprived of emotional care.
What can extended separations lead to?
Deprivation which causes harm.
What did Bowlby see as the critical period?
The first 2 and a half years of life.
What did Bowlby believed happened when a child is separated from their mother and deprived of emotional care during this critical period?
Psychological damage was inevitable.
What age did Bowlby believe there was a continuing risk of psychological damage?
Up to 5.
What is one major way maternal deprivation affects children’s development?
Intellectual development.
What did Bowlby believe would happen if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period?
They would experience delayed intellectual development characterised by abnormally low IQ.
What did Goldfarb find?
A lower IQ in children who remained in institutions opposed to those fostered and had a higher standard for emotional care.
What is a second major way in which being deprived of a mother figures emotional care affects children?
Emotional development.
What did Bowlby identify affectionaless psychopathy as?
The inability to experience guilt or strong emotions towards others.
What can’t affectionless psychopaths do?
Appreciate feelings of victims meaning they lack remorse for their actions.
What did Bowlby’s 44 thieves study examine?
The link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
Procedure of the 44 thieves study
- Sample = 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing.
- All interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy - lack of affection, lack of guilt and lack of empathy.
- Families interviewed to establish whether they had prolonged early separations from mothers.
- Compared to a control group of 44 non-criminal but emotionally-disturbed young people.
Findings of 44 thieves
- 14/44 described as affectionless psychopaths.
- 12/14 experienced prolonged separation from mothers in the first 2 years of their lives.
- 5 of the remaining 30 experienced separations.
- 2 ppts in the control group experienced long separations.
What did Bowlby conclude?
Prolonged early separation/ deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy.
Evaluation - research support
44 Thieves study found many affectionless psychopaths experienced prolonged separation from mothers in early childhood.
Evaluation - methodological issued
Bowlby conducted the interviews and diagnosis which could lead to researcher bias.
Real world application
Bowlby’s work led to major changes in child welfare policies e.g. hospital visiting rights for parents and adoption policies.
Cultural differences
Some culture (collectivist) have multiple caregivers and children still form strong attachments suggesting the ‘maternal’ part may be less crucial than Bowlby though.
