Psychodynamic Classic Evidence

Question 1

What is the classic evidence used?

Answer 1

Bowlby 1944 - 44 Juvenile Thieves: Their Characters and Home life

Question 2

What is meant by maternal deprivation?

Answer 2

When a child forms an attachment with their primary care giver, but then it is lost e.g. work, illness, divorce etc.

Question 3

What is the critical period for care as a child?

Answer 3

2 and a half years

Question 4

Was this study a case study?

Answer 4

Yes - case study on 44 children / ‘thieves’

Question 5

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 5

To see if there was an association between delinquent behaviour and experiences of separation from the mother

Question 6

Who were the sample of the study?

Answer 6

44 thieves from a child guidance clinic - 31 boys and 13 girls aged between 5 and 17 years old with a generally average level of intelligence (measured with Binet scale)

Question 7

Who were the control group of the study?

Answer 7

44 children from the same general guidance clinic who were not labelled ‘thieves’ who were sent for ‘emotional disturbance’ and were similar age and intelligence as the thieves

Question 8

What was the mothers role in the study?

Answer 8

Mothers of both groups gave background information on the children and their history and were involved in the study

Question 9

What sampling method was used in the study?

Answer 9

Opportunity sampling

Question 10

What was the procedures of the study?

Answer 10

Each child given intelligence tests using Binet Scale and noted emotional attitude of child
Same time, social workers interviewed the mothers to record data of psychiatric history
Both psychologist and social worker reported to psychiatrist - Bowlby - who did 2 hour examinations on mothers and children to consider school and other factors to come to a conclusion
Following 6 months, both the children and mothers met with the psychiatrist and social workers for detailed history for diagnosis of emotional problems

Question 11

During Bowlby’s findings what six personality types did he establish between the children?

Answer 11

Normal - stable children
Depressed - depressed state of mind
Circular - unstable children
Hyperthymic - overactive children
Affectionless - children who lack affection, shame or responsibility
Schizoid - schizophrenic symptoms

Question 12

Which of the six personality types did Bowlby focused on?

Answer 12

Affectionless personalities

Question 13

How many of the affection less characters had experienced separation from their mothers?

Answer 13

12 out of 14

Question 14

What did the findings show about affection less characters in relation to stealing?

Answer 14

Affectionless characters stole more persistently and seriously

Question 15

Out of the non-affection less thieves, how many had experienced separation from the mother?

Answer 15

3 out of 30

Question 16

Explain two examples of the children who were labelled ‘affectionless’.

Answer 16

No.30 Norman K. aged 7 - Mother chronically ill with TB and in sanatoria for long periods of time when between 2 and 5 - looked after by many
No.38 Albert J. aged 9 - looked after by auntie from birth but fell ill at 3 years old spent long periods in hospital

Question 17

What other factors were found to affect the children in the study?

Answer 17

Genetics, separation from mother, traumatic events and hatred for mother

Question 18

What were Bowlby’s conclusions from his study?

Answer 18

Maternal deprivation causes damage to emotional development and a lack of superego
Children who steal persistently are of a affection less character caused by maternal deprivation
Maternal deprivation can be caused by unresolved conflict in psychosexual stages of childhood experiences

Question 19

What are some implications for treatment that can be made from Bowlby’s study?

Answer 19

Raise awareness of effects of maternal deprivation
Identify a affection less character as early as possible to avoid delinquency