Maternal deprivation

Question 1

The value of maternal care

Answer 1

It was assumed that good hygiene and food was the key to good care.
However, Bowlby said infants need a good emotional care - warm and intimate relationship with their mother.

Question 2

Critical Period

Answer 2

Bowlby believed that a young child who is denied that care will result in being emotionally disturbed. However, this only applies if this happened within the critical period.

Question 3

Key Study: 44 Thieves: Procedure

Answer 3

• 88 particpants
• 44 young thieves, 44 control group
• he suggested thieves were “affectionless psychopaths”

Question 4

Key study: Findings

Answer 4

• 39% of the thieves had separation from their mother
• None of the control group had separation from their mother
• 86% of the affectionless thieves had separation from their mother

Question 5

A03: Also emotional separation

Answer 5

Yarrow: mothers who were severely depressed 55% children were insecurely attached
mothers who weren’t depressed - 29%

Question 6

A03: Real world application - Laura

Answer 6

Enormous positive post war thinking about child care.
Before Bowlbys research, visiting children in hospital was discouraged. Laura was filmed for 8 days in hospital = frequently distressed and want to go home.

led to a major social change.

Question 7

A03: Individual differences

Answer 7

Bowlby: 60 children treated for TB. Only visited once a week = experienced prolonged disruption of attachment
When tested in adolescents = 63% were maladjusted
No significant differences of intellectual development.

Question 8

A03: Deprivation vs Privation

Answer 8

Rutter claimed privation would result in a worse outcome and then deprivation.
Bowlby did not include this so therefore could lack validity