Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
What is the maternal deprivation hypothesis?
Prolonged separation from primary caregiver can have a detrimental effect on the emotional and intellectual development of an infant
The two areas of development affected by maternal deprivation
emotional and intellectual development
Define affectionless psychopathy
The inability to experience guilt or emotions for others, it is associated with criminality
A study which shows a link between maternal deprivation and poor intellectual development
Goldfarb (1947)
Goldfarb (1947) procedure
- 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
A study which shows a link between maternal deprivation and poor emotional development
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944)
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944) - procedure
- case studies on backgrounds of 44 teens who were referred to clinic because they had been stealing
- was a control group of emotionally disturbed teens who didn’t steal
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944) findings
- 17 of the thieves had experienced frequent separations from mother before age of 2, compared to 2 in the control group
- 14 thieves diagnosed as affectionless psychopaths
- 12/14 of these experienced separation from other
Strength - positive impact on post-war thinking
Before Bowlby’s research, children were separated from parents when in hospital, visiting was also discouraged
Strength - lots of evidence
- Goldfarb - effects on IQ
- 44 thieves
- Harlow’s monkeys
c: Hilda Lewis - replicated 44 thieves study with 500 people
- found different results
Limitation - deprivation vs privation
Rutter (1981) - thought long term effects were caused by privation not deprivation
Privation is the failure to form any attachment in the first place
