bowlbys maternal deprivation theory

Question 1

maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 1

continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychgolocial development
- prolonged separation from the mother cases damage to emotional and intellectual development,

• could have negative consequences e.g emotional instability and criminal behaviour may develop

Question 2

what is separation

Answer 2

child not in presence of primary attachment figure

Question 3

what is deprivation

Answer 3

long term separation/ removal of attachment, or never having an attachment

Question 4

how does deprivation affect intellectual development

Answer 4

if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during critical period, they would suffer delayed intellectual developed ( e.g low iq)

supported by Goldfarb 1947

Question 5

bowblys investigation

Answer 5

44 thieves -

Question 6

what did bowlby want to investigate

Answer 6

long term effects of maternal deprivation on emotional development

Question 7

bowlbys procedure

Answer 7

compared 2 groups of 44 teenagers
- 1 group were ‘thieves’
- other ( control group ) had emotional problems but didnt commit any crimes
- conducted interviews with children and their families, to get info about their early life experiences, focusing on any instances of separation from primary caregiver

Question 8

bowlbys findings

Answer 8

• 14/44 of thieves, classed as affection less psychopaths, (lacked sense of guilty/ empathy for others)
• of these 14, 12 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during their critical period
• of the remaining 30 thieves, 5 had experienced separation
• in control group, only 2 out of 44 children had experienced prolonged operation

Question 9

bowlbys conclusions

Answer 9

• strong link between early maternal deprivation, and later emotional maladjustment
• suggested that prolonged separation from primary caregiver, esp during critical period, can lead to serious and permanent damage to a Childs emotional and social development e.g affection less psychopathy

Question 10

bowlby limiaations

Answer 10

info gained from interviews - social desirability bias
- study uses retrospective data - relies on early childhood memories, may not be reliable
- bowlby himself interviewed sample, - bias

Question 11

what is the critical period

Answer 11

first 2-3 years of life are crucial for forming an attachment

Question 12

Goldfarb aim

Answer 12

ww2 orphans

investigated the long term effects of maternal deprivation on intellectual development

Question 13

Goldfarb procedure

Answer 13

• compared 2 groups
• 15 orphans = raised in an institution for first 3 years then fostered
• 15 children = been in foster care since early infancy

Question 14

Goldfarb findings

Answer 14

institiution group =
- lower iq
- more problematic behavioural issues
- less mature
- diffuclutes maintaining relationships

Question 15

limiations of Goldfarb

Answer 15

• small sample size - difficult to generalise
• factors other than maternal deprivation can explain these results e.g
  -trauma from war
  -poor after care in orphanage