Classical Evidence - Bowlby Flashcards
Methodology
> series of case studies
looked at an association between two groups
FOCUS -
> 44 children (thieves), graded in terms of seriousness
>IQ - average, 15 high, 2 under 85
CONTROL GROUP -
> Similar in age, sex, IQ
> emotionally disturbed (like the thieves)
>didn’t steal
MOTHERS -
> involved
> interviewed to assess the case histories
Procedures
> sample obtained through opportunity sampling
on arrival - mental tests, assess intelligence , look at emotional attitude, interview mothers for early psychiatric history
continued to meet psychiatrists weekly for 6 months
Findings
> distinguished between personality types to determine what previous experiences might have caused them to steal.
6 main types :
normal
depressed
circular
hyperthymic
AFFECTIONLESS
schizoid
The affectionless character
> very clear pattern emerged in relation to delinquency
14 affectionless, 12/14 experienced frequent seperations
17 experienced early seperation
5 - fathers who hated them
Conclusions
> early experiences are of vital importance in later development
relationship between a mother and child is important in emotional development - damage would affect the development of the superego leading to reduced sense of right and wrong.
Evaluation - methodology and procedures : weakness
> no casual findings, only thing that is demonstrated is a relationship between prolonged separation and emotional problems, no casual conclusions can be drawn.
Data is limited as it is based on the view of one person (psychiatrist) , perceptions may be biased by his own beliefs, case histories based on the recollections of the parents ( inaccurate?)
all children were emotionally disturbed - not appropriate to generalise from this sample to all children
Evaluation - ethical issues
> no confidentiality - report gives first name + initial letter of last name, case histories provide details of their lives, easy to identify them, not clear if they were aware it would be published.
data was collected as a part of treating them , report published 5 years later - difficult to obtain consent
