Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

explain separation vs deprivation?

Answer 1

• Separation: child not in the presence of of Pattachment figure. brief separations r fine
• Deprivation: extended separations leads to deprivation and can cause harm

Question 2

who is our main man?

Answer 2

-BOWLBY

Question 3

explain the critical period?

Answer 3

• Bowlby believed first 30 months of life= critical period for psychological development
• if child is deprived of emotional care for an extended period, psychological damage is inevitable (says Bowlby)

Question 4

explain effects on development: intellectual development

Answer 4

• maternal deprivation can cause delayed intellectual development
• low IQ
• supported by study showing lower IQ in children who remained in institutions compared to those that were fostered and had better emotional care

Question 5

explain effects on development: emotional development

Answer 5

• maternal deprivation can cause affectionless psychopathy= inability to experience guilt for others
• prevents development of normal relationships and associated with criminality

Question 6

explain the procedure for the 44 thieves study?

Answer 6

• Bowlby
• 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing
• all interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy
• familes also interviwed to see if theives had prolonged separations from their mothers

Question 7

explain the findings for the 44 thieves study?

Answer 7

-found that 14/44 thieves =affectionless psychopaths
and had prolonged separations from their mothers in first 2 years of their lives
-in control group of emotional disturbed non criminals only 2/44 had long separations
=early separation causes affectionless psychopathy

Question 8

evaluate how evidence may be poor for the 44 thieves study?

Answer 8

WEAKNESS
-Bowlby drew on a number of sources eg. ww11 orphan studies, but more traumatised than normal kids
+
-design flaws in this study, with bowlby carrying out the assessments and family interviews= researcher bias as he knew what he hoped to find

Question 9

evaluate counter evidence for 44 thieves study?

Answer 9

WEAKNESS

• Hilda Lewis replicated the 44 thieves study with 500 young people
• found that a history of prolonged separation from mum didn’t predict criminality
• problem for theory of maternal deprivation

Question 10

evaluate the critical period is actually a sensitive period?

Answer 10

WEAKNESS
-Bowlby called cperiod as he believed damage in this 2years is irrevocable
HOWEVER
-Koliuchova reported case of twin boys who were isolated from 18months-7 but when looked after by 2 loving adults they recovered fully
-shows sensitive rather than critical