Attachment - Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
(46 cards)
Maternal deprivation
A prolonged separation between the child and their primary caregiver that can lead to emotional, cognitive and social difficulties such as psychopathy, lower IQ and developmental delays
– bowlby’s hypothesis
Deprivation
The loss/disruption have an attachment or Bond that has already been formed
Privation
The attachment Bond is never formed
Temporary separation is not always an issue because:
It gives children independence
Allows children to trust others
A bond has already been formed
Quality over quantity
Create secure base
Why is motherly love important?
It provides the foundation for emotional security
Create safe base and promote exploration
Emotional security promotes cognitive, social and physical development
Shapes internal working model
Separation
Brief and temporary
Effects of maternal deprivation – emotional development:
Attachment problems ( Trust, intimacy and emotional regulation are struggles)
Affectionless psychopathy ( most severe emotional consequence )
-lack of empathy
-absence of guilt or remorse
-antisocial behaviour (aggression, impulsivity, criminal behaviour)
Emotional instability (anxiety, depression, trouble regulating emotions)
Effects of maternal deprivation – emotional development EXAMPLE:
Beth was a sexually abused child who then, at the age of 6, wanted to hurt everyone ( affectionless psychopathy) including her brother and foster parents.
Effects of maternal deprivation – cognitive development:
Lower IQ
Learning and attention issues
Effects of maternal deprivation – physical development:
Growth delay ( stunted growth and malnutrition)
Weak immune system ( stress weakens immune system)
Delayed motor development (walking, talking and motor coordination)
Charles Manson
His mother was largely absent so he spent time in institutions and juvenile detention centers
Lack of empathy – he manipulated his followers into committing murders
No remorse
Antisocial behaviour – lead the cult responsible for the Tate-LaBianca murders
↓
THIS IS A CORRELATION NOT A CAUSATION
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944) procedure:
Ww2 orphaned children, 44 thieves and institutionalized children
Children were assessed for affectionless psychopathy
Families were interviewed to find out about thieves’ maternal deprivation
Compared to control group of non-criminal but emotionally disturbed Young people
↓
Conducted research himself – RESEARCHER BIAS
Bowlby’s 44 thieves (1944) findings:
14 / 44 thieves (32%) had affectionless psychopathy - of these 14, 12 had experience maternal deprivation
Only two children in the control group had affectionless psychopathy and few experienced maternal deprivation
Many thieves experienced maternal deprivation
Goldfarb (1947)
Studied children in wartime orphanages and found that those who spend three plus years in institutional care have lower IQs, were socially immature and showed increased aggression
Silver (1967)
Studied infants in poor orphanages and found that maternals deprivation led to dwarfism, delayed sexual development, sleep issues and increased appetites as coping mechanisms
Spitz (1945)
Studied children in poor orphanages who lacked affection, leading to anaclitic depression, emotional withdrawal and physical health problems
Levy (1953)
Found that rats separated from their mothers showed poor social behaviors and increased stress levels.
Maternal deprivation
Prolonged separation between a child and their primary caregiver that can lead to emotional, cognitive and social difficulties such as psychopathy, lower IQ and developmental delays
Deprivation
The lost/disruption of an attachment of a Bond that has already been formed
Privation
The attachment Bond is never formed
Separation
Brief and temporary
Temple separation is not always an issue because:
It gives children independence
Allows children to trust others
A bond has already been formed
Quality over quantity
Create a secure base
Why is motherly love important?
It provides the foundation for emotional security
Create safe base and promotes exploration
Emotional security promotes cognitive social and physical development
Shapes internal working model
Effects of maternal deprivation
Emotional development
Attachment problems (Trust, intimacy and emotional regulation are struggles)
Affectionless psychopathy (most severe emotional consequence)
- lack of empathy
- absence of guilt or remorse
- antisocial behaviour (aggression, impulsivity or criminal behavior)
Emotional instability (anxiety, depression and trouble regulating emotions)
