Bowlbys Theory

Question 1

What is Bowlby’s key idea?

Answer 1

Childhood experiences have an affect on future behaviour.

Question 2

What did bowlby look at?

Answer 2

he looked at the affect of maternal deprivation during infancy

Question 3

what did Bowbly say was critical?

Answer 3

he hypothesised that the first 5 years a crucial to having a close relationship with a ‘mother figure’ for healthy development.

Question 4

What did Bowlby say happened if someone did not have a mother figure

Answer 4

He said it can lead to affectionless psychopathy which is the inability to feel remorse.

Question 5

What are the strengths of this theory?

Answer 5

• it supports freuds theory as well as the nature nurture debate.
• 39% of juvenile delinquents had suffered maternal deprivation than non delinquents which is 5%.

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of this theory?

Answer 6

• it was a retrospective study - this is where delinquents and their mothers had to accurately recall past events. It can be a problem if it involves recalling emotive events and they could forget certain parts.
• it explains behaviour but only after it has happened.