Disruptions Of Attachment

Question 1

What is Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis?

Answer 1

He suggests that if deprivation occurs from the mother within the critical period of 3 years it will have a detrimental affect on future life.

This involves a reduced IQ and affectionless psychopathy which is linked to criminality and affects formation of future attachments.

Question 2

Evaluation of Maternal deprivation hypothesis?

Answer 2

Research support- 44 juvenile thieves
Research against- Czech twins provide evidence against the theory as the effects were reversed.
Ritter suggested Bowlby did not distinguish between deprivation (loss off primary attachment figure) and privation (inability to create new attachments).