Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
Define maternal deprivation
The loss of emotional care that is normally provided by primary caregiver.
What did bowlby propose?
That prolonged maternal deprivation during critical period would have long term consequences in terms of emotional and intellectual development
What is the critical period ?
The first 30 months. Damage is inevitable if child’s restricted of emotional care
Intellectual damage
Mental retardation and an abnormally low IQ
Emotional damage
Inability to experience guilt and strong emotions for others (affectionless psychopathy). Cannot form normal relationships, associated with criminality.
44 thieves study (1944)
What did bowlby do?
Interviewed 44 teens accused of stealing and their families.
Wanted to establish if there were any prolonged separations during childhood. And identify any signs of affectionless psychopathy.
Bowlby’s (1944) findings
14 thieves were affectionless psychopaths, 12 of which had experienced separation.
This suggests prolonged early deprivation causes affectionless psychopathy
LIMITATION: lacks external validity
Studies often involved war orphans or institutionalised children. The trauma and deprivation of many aspects (other than just maternal care) may have caused later developmental difficulties.
LIMITATION: bias
Bowlby carried out assessments himself, he knew what he was hoping to find which may have influenced results
LIMITATION: thieves study not replicable
Lewis (1954) replicated thieves study using 500 young people. Found prolonged maternal separation didn’t predict criminality and that other factors may affect the outcome of early separation.
LIMITATION: critical period is more a sensitive period
Case study of czech twins who were isolated for 18 months made a full recover when looked after by two loving adults.
This shows deprivation can have positive outcomes provided child experiences good aftercare.
STRENGTH: animal studies
Harlows monkeys (1958) experienced emotional damage, they were aggressive and neglected own off spring.
LIMITATION: deprivation and privation
Rutter (1981) argued that the severe long term damage that bowlby highlighted is due to privation (no attachment formed) rather than deprivation (Loss of attachment)
