Psychodynamic Research

Question 1

Methodology

Answer 1

Series of case studies

Thieves: 44, 31 boys, 13 girls. Graded in terms of seriousness of stealing, mainly average intelligence

Control: Matched pairs, emotionally disturbed but didn’t steal, from same clinic

Mothers: Interviewed to assess histories of children

Question 2

Procedures

Answer 2

Opportunity sampling

Initial examination: Psychologist gave children mental tests. Social worker interviewed mothers. Both reported to Bowlby.

Therapy:

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

Diagnosis: Distinguished 6 personality types to try and see what causes them to be thieves. E.g. Schizoid, Affectionless, Depressed, Normal

Affectionless character: This personality was caused by maternal deprivation. One child in hospital for 9 months and not visited by parents etc..

Question 4

Conclusions

Answer 4

Children wouldn’t have been offenders if they hadn’t experienced harmful factors to development.

Mother-Child bond crucial for development (Critical period first 2 yrs)

Maternal deprivation damaged superego, so less right and wrong sense

Treatment implications: Earlier prevention of maternal deprivation better than later treatment as its long and hard process for delinquency.

Question 5

Methodology/ Procedures evaluation

Answer 5

-Biased data, all qual data based on Bowlby’s opinion /Old recollection of parents

-No casual findings, only a correlation found, e.g. maternal deprivation could have been caused BECAUSE child was affectionless

-All P’s emotionally disturbed, can we generalise findings to other children?

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Question 6

Ethics/ Implications

Answer 6

-P’s identifiable in research (First name + Last initial)

-Data published 5 years after case studies, no informed consent for 5 years later?