bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

seperation v deprivation

Answer 1

separation = child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure
ONLY become an issue when the child is deprived ie they lose an element of care
brief separations are not detrimental it is hone they are prolonged it can be harmful for development

Question 2

the critical period

Answer 2

bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for physchological development. if a child is spectated from thie mother in the absence of suitable substitute careened so deprived of her emotional care for an extended period during the critical period then physchological damage was inveitable

Question 3

effects on intellectual development

Answer 3

bowlby believed if children were deprived nov maternal care for too long during the critical period they would suffer delayed intellectual development characterised by abnormally low iq .
- GOLDFARB 1947
found Lower iq in children who remained institustions as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a hugger standard emotional care

Question 4

effects on emotional development

Answer 4

bowlby identified Affectionless physchopathy as the inability to experience guilt or trying emotions for others
this prevents the person developing normal relationship and is associated with criminality . Affectionless physchopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their actions

Question 5

bowlbys 44 thieves study
aim

Answer 5

to examine the link between Affectionless physchopathy and maternal deprivation

Question 6

bowlbys 44 thieves study
procedure

Answer 6

sample = 44 criminal teens accuseed of stealing
all thieves were interviewed for signs off Affectionless physcopathy , characterised as a lack of affection lack of guilt about their actions and lack of empathy for their victims.
their families were also interviewed ignorer to establish whether the thieves had prolonged early separations from their mothers
a control group of non criminal but emotionally disturbed young ppl was set up to see how often maternal separation/deprivation occurred

Question 7

bowlbys 44 thieves study
findings

Answer 7

bowlby 1944 found ;
14/44 thieves could be classed as Affectionless physchopaths
12/14 had experienced prolonged separation fro their mothers in the first two years of life
in contrat 5/30 remaining had experienced separations
control 2/44 experienced separations

Question 8

bowlbys 44 thieves study
conclusion

Answer 8

prolonged early oration/deprivation caused afectionless physcopathy

Question 9

limitation
evidence

Answer 9

bowlby drew upon a number of sources for evidence including studies of children orphaned during ww2 (GOLDFARB) this growing up in poor quality orphanages and 44 thieves study.
FLAWED as evidence . war orphans were traumatised and often had poor after care , those factors may have had affect on later development rather then separation.
sismialry children growing up in poor quality orphanages were deprived from numerous elements of care not just maternal .
44 thieves methodology flaws as bobbly main researcher = potential researcher bias .

Question 10

limitation
counter evidence

Answer 10

not all reach has supported bowlbys findings
HILDA LEWIS 1954
partially replicated the
4 thieves study on a larger scale looking at 500 young people.
in her sample a history of prolonged separation form the mother did not predict crimianlity or difficulty forming close relationships
- a problem for the theory as it suggest there is more factors that may affect the outcome of early maternal deprivation

Question 11

limitation
critical period is more of a sensitive period

Answer 11

’ critical period’ was sued as bowlby believed prolonged separation invetibaly caused damage if it took place within that period
later research shows the image is not inevitable. some cases of very secure deprivation have had good outcomes provided the child has some social interactions and good aftercare
KOLUCHOVA 1976
reported the case of two twin boys from Czechoslovakia who ere isolated from 18 months until they were 7 years old . afterwards they were looked after by two loving adults and appeared to recover fully . cases like this show that the period identified by bowlby is only sensitive not critical