Bowlby’s Theory Of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
What is separation?
When a child is away from a caregiver they’re attached to (usually for a short period of time)
What is deprivation?
The loss of something that is wanted or needed
What is maternal deprivation?
The loss of the mother and her care. (This is usually a permanent loss)
What was Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
Continuous care and nurture from a mother is essential for normal psychological development of babies and toddlers. Prolonged separation from a mother can have serious consequences.
According to Bowlby (maternal deprivation hypothesis) what is the critical period?
The first 2.5-3 years of life
According to Bowlby, what are the 4 main effects on development of maternal deprivation occurs?
An inability to form attachments in the future
Affectionless psychopathy
Delinquency
Problems with cognitive development
What is affectionless psychopathy?
The inability to experience guilt or strong emotions for others
What is the key study for Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
44 Juvenile Thieves
What were the 2 groups for Bowlby’s 44 Juvenile Thieves study?
44 children that had been caught stealing
44 children in a control group
Where did Bowlby get his participants from?
The child guidance clinic where he worked, in which the children were emotionally maladjusted
What was the procedure of the 44 Juvenile Thieves study?
The thieves were interviewed for affectionless psychopathy.
Their families were interviewed to see if the thieves had prolonged separation at an early age from their mothers.
What were the findings of the 44 Juvenile Thieves study?
14 /44 of the thieves were diagnosed as affectionless psychopaths. 12 of those 14 had prolonged separation from their mothers in the first 2 years of their lives.
What was the conclusion of the 44 Juvenile Thieves study?
Deprivation of a child from its main carer in early life can have very harmful long-term consequences
What is a limitation about the conclusion of Bowlby’s study?
It cannot be said that maternal deprivation causes criminal behaviour, there is only a link. Other factors (such as poverty or education) could also have caused it.
Why does Rutter (1981) criticise Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
He claimed that Bowlby failed to distinguish between deprivation and privation. He suggests that the long term damage Bowlby associated with deprivation is actually the result of privation (failure to form any attachment at all)
