LS10 - Bowlby's Theory Of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

Maternal Deprivation

Answer 1

Bowlby suggested that children who suffer from prolonger emotional deprivation due to the absence of their primray attachment figure will have intellectual, social and emotional difficulties in the future.

Question 2

Maternal Deprivation - Continuity Hypothesis

Answer 2

The continuity hypothesis suggest these effects are irreversible due to the lack of a positive internal working model, which is most likely to occur during the critical period but the child is at risk till their sensitive period ends.

Question 3

Critical Period

Answer 3

Before 2.5 years old

Question 4

Sensitive Period

Answer 4

Before 5 years

Question 5

Bowlby Aim

Answer 5

To see if maternal deprivation had a negative effect on children in the long-term.

Question 6

Bowlby Procedure

Answer 6

Bowlby analysed the histories of kids in a clinic who wer emotionally maladjusted. 50% had been caught stealing and the other half were a control group.

Question 7

Bowlby Results

Answer 7

14 of the thieves were affectionless psychopaths and they’d experienced frequent and early separations from their mothers. Almost none of the control group had experienced early separations from their mother.

Question 8

Strengths

Answer 8

Real Life Application
Shit Orphanage Study
Institutional Study

Question 9

Real Life Application (+)

Answer 9

Before Bowlby’s theory hopsital woudln’t allow parents to visit their chidlren however now they’re encouraged to do so.

Question 10

Shit Orphanage Study (+)

Answer 10

Spitz - Examined children raised in a shit orphanage where members of staff were both overworked and undertrained, the children displayed depression.

Question 11

Institutional Study (+)

Answer 11

Children in institutions that only looked after them physically had lower IQs than children in institutions with emotional care who had significantly better IQs.

Question 12

Weaknesses

Answer 12

Reversible
Privation & Deprivation

Question 13

Reversible (-)

Answer 13

Tizard Et Al - Found the effects of maternal deprivation were reversible, meaning those without attachments in childhood could still form attachments in adulthood.

Question 14

Reversible (-)

Answer 14

Tizard Et Al - Found the effects of maternal deprivation were reversible, meaning those without attachments in childhood could still form attachments in adulthood.

Question 15

Privation And Deprivation (-)

Answer 15

Bowlby didn’t distinguish the difference between deprivation and privation, and privation could’ve been the cause of the negative effects as opposed to deprivation.

Question 16

Privation

Answer 16

When the child has never formed an attachment.

Question 17

Deprivation

Answer 17

When the attachment figure was once there but was afterwards lost.