Bowlbys Theory Of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

Maternal deprivation

Answer 1

Emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development, and the prolonged separation from this adult cause serious damage to the emotional and intellectual development.

Question 2

Seperation

Answer 2

Separation means the child is not in the presence of the PAF. Eg. Mother goes to work.

Question 3

Deprivation

Answer 3

Deprivation involves losing an element of care. Eg. Mother in hospital for a few weeks.

Question 4

The critical period

Answer 4

The first 2 1/2 years are critical and deprivation in that time causes damage

Question 5

What are the two effects on development

Answer 5

• Intellectual development
• Emotional development

Question 6

Maternal deprivation effect on intellectual development

Answer 6

If children were deprived of maternal care for too long during their critical period they would experience delayed intellectual development, characterised by abnormally low IQ

Question 7

Goldfarb research on maternal deprivation effect on intellectual development

Answer 7

Found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher standard of emotional care

Question 8

Maternal deprivation effect on emotional development

Answer 8

Being deprived of a mother figures emotional care affects children is in their emotional development. For example, inability to experience guilt (Affectionless psychopaths)

Question 9

Bowlby’s research on maternal deprivation- participants

Answer 9

44 thieves/ criminal teenagers

Question 10

Bowlby’s research on maternal deprivation- procedure

Answer 10

• Interviewed for signs of affectionless signs of psychopathy
• Characterised by lack of affection, lack of empathy and lack of guilt for their victims
• Families also interviewed
• Compared to control group

Question 11

Bowlby’s research on maternal deprivation- Findings

Answer 11

• 14 out of 44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths
• 12 of them had experienced prolonged separation from mum during first 2y of life

Question 12

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation evaluation points- Poor evidence

Answer 12

LIMITATION

Orphaned children from WW2 as well as Bowlby completing the research on the thieves – bias.

Question 13

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation evaluation points- Counter evidence

Answer 13

LIMITATION

Lewis replicated Bowlby’s study with 500 young people - history of prolonged separation did not predict criminality, or show difficulty forming relationships.

Question 14

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation evaluation points-Critical period is a sensitive period

Answer 14

LIMITATION

Some people who have experienced severe deprivation had good outcomes - ~Czech twins with evil stepmother!

Question 15

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation evaluation points- Support from animal research

Answer 15

STRENGTH

Baby rats shown to suffer consequences from being apart from mother as little as a day. Harlow’s monkeys!