maternal deprivation: bowlby's theory Flashcards
What is John Bowlby known for?
“Monotropic theory of attachment and theory of maternal deprivation”
What is the focus of the theory of maternal deprivation?
“The idea that continual presence of care from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal psychological development”
What did Bowlby (1953) famously say?
“‘Mother-love in infancy and childhood is as important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health.’”
What are the consequences of being separated from a mother in early childhood?
“Serious consequences (maternal deprivation)”
What is separation?
“The child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure”
When does separation become a problem?
“If the child becomes deprived of emotional care”
When are brief separations not significant for development?
“When the child is with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care”
What can extended separations lead to?
“Deprivation
What did Bowlby see as the critical period for psychological development?
“The first two-and-a-half years of life”
What did Bowlby believe about separation from the mother during the critical period?
“Psychological damage was inevitable
How does maternal deprivation affect intellectual development?
“Can cause delayed intellectual development
Who found lower IQ in children who remained in institutions?
“William Goldfarb (1947)”
What is affectionless psychopathy?
“The inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others”
What does affectionless psychopathy prevent?
“A person developing fulfilling relationships and is associated with criminality”
What did Bowlby’s (1944) 44 thieves study examine?
“The link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation”
What was the sample in Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
“44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing”
What characteristics were the ‘thieves’ interviewed for?
“Signs of affectionless psychopathy: a lack of affection
What did Bowlby find in his 44 thieves study?
“14 of the 44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths
What was a limitation of Bowlby’s theory?
“The poor quality of the evidence”
Why is Bowlby’s 44 thieves study flawed?
“Bowlby himself carried out the interviews and assessments
What problems did Goldfarb’s study have?
“Problems of confounding variables”
What did Frederic Lévy et al. (2003) show?
“Separating baby rats from their mother had a permanent effect on their social development”
What is deprivation?
“The loss of the primary attachment figure after attachment has developed”
What is privation?
“The failure to form any attachment in the first place”
