Theory Of Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

What is the maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 1

Prolonged separation from the primary caregiver can have a detrimental effect on the emotional and intelectual development of an infant

Question 2

State two areas of development affected by maternal deprivation

Answer 2

Emotional development (affectionless psychopathy) and intelectual development

Question 3

Define affectionless psychopathy

Answer 3

Inability to experience guilt or emotions for others. It is associated with criminality

Question 4

Name a study which shows a link between maternal deprivation and poor intelectual development

Answer 4

Goldfarb (1947)

Question 5

Describe the procedure and findings of Goldfarbs study

Answer 5

Group 1- first few months in orphanage and then fostered
Group 2- first 3 years in orphanage and then fostered
- IQ tested up until age of 12
- found that group 2 performed worse on IQ test (68) than group 1 (96)

Question 6

Name a study which shows a link between maternal deprivation and poor emotional development

Answer 6

Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944)

Question 7

Describe the procedure and findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study

Answer 7

• case studies completed on background of 44 adolescents who were referred to clinic because they had been stealing
• was a control group of emotionally disturbed adolescents who didn’t steal for comparison
• 17 of the thieves has experiences frequent separations from mother before age of 2, compares to 2 in control group
• 14 thieves diagnosed as affectionless psychopaths
• 12/14 experiences separation from mothers
• long-term separation from main caregiver early in life can have harmful consequences