Attachment: bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

What is maternal deprivation?

Answer 1

Loss of emotional care due to prolonged separation

Question 2

What does the theory state?

Answer 2

Continuous maternal care is needed for healthy psychological development

Question 3

What happens if infants are deprived from maternal care during the critical period?

Answer 3

.suffer consequences eg:
-lower iq
-juvenile delinquency
-affectionless psychopathy (lack of care)

Question 4

What was the sample of the study?

Answer 4

-44 juvenile thieves and their families
-control group of 44 disturbed children

Question 5

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 5

-the thieves and their families were interviewed
-they were compared to a control group of 44 disturbed children

Question 6

What were the findings of the study?

Answer 6

.14 were affection less psychopaths in which 12 of these were separated from their mothers before the age of 2

Question 7

What were some limitations to the study?

Answer 7

.bias evidence -bowlby conducted the interviews -lack of internal validity
.bowlby was criticised by rutter -for not distinguishing between privation (never forming bond) and deprivation (disruption/loss of bond) -privation may be worse, e.g. many of the juvenile thieves actually suffered privation

Question 7

What was a strength to the study?

Answer 7

-evidence from institutions (lower iq if raised in institutions)
-real world application:
.led to improvement in institution care as each assigned key workers and as much time spent in foster care as possible.