Chapter 3 Attachment - Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Separation vs deprivation?

Answer 1

Physical separation only leads to deprivation when the child loses emotional care.

Question 2

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - The critical period?

Answer 2

The first 2 ½ years are critical & deprivation in that time causes damage.

Question 3

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Effects on development?

Answer 3

Goldfarb - deprivation causes low IQ.
Bowlby - deprivation of emotional care leads to affectionless psychopathy.

Question 4

Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Bowlby’s research?

Answer 4

Many more affectionless psychopaths than controls had prolonged early separations.

Question 5

Evaluation of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Flawed evidence? L

Answer 5

• Bowlby may have been a biased observer.
• Goldfarb’s study had confounding variables.
• CP is that research with rats shows deprivation can harm social development. (Lévy et al.)

Question 6

Evaluation of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Deprivation & privation? L

Answer 6

Some of the 44 thieves may have been ‘prived’, deprivation may be less damaging (Rutter).

Question 7

Evaluation of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Critical vs sensitive period? L

Answer 7

Czech twins’ (Koluchová) recovering suggests it is a sensitive period.

Question 8

Evaluation of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory - Conflicting evidence? X

Answer 8

No evidence for link between deprivation & psychopathy (e.g. Lewis), but other research supports it (e.g. Gao et al.)

Question 9

Evaluations of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory? (LLLX)

Answer 9

L - Flawed evidence
L - Deprivation & privation
L - Critical vs sensitive period
X - Conflicting evidence