Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
What is deprivation?
When the infant loses emotional care due to prolonged separation from their primary caregiver
What is privation?
When an infant fails to form an attachment with their primary caregiver in the first place
What is Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation?
The idea that continuous emotional care from a maternal figure is essential for normal development. The deprivation of this care, without sufficient substitute care, has serious consequences.
What was the critical period Bowlby identified during which maternal deprivation causes irreversible damage?
Until 2 and 1/2, though there is a risk factor up until the age of 5.
What did Bowlby claim maternal deprivation affected?
Cognitive, emotional and social development
What are 4 affects of maternal deprivation?
- Reduced intelligence
- Delinquency
- Depression
- Afectionless pyschopathy
Describe Goldfarb’s findings into Reduced Intelligence as a result of maternal deprivation
Found that children raised in institutions had lower mean IQ’s than those who were fostered (and therefore would’ve had higher standards of emotional care)
Describe Bowlby’s Study into Delinquency as a result of maternal deprivation
- Studied 60 children who experienced prolonged hospital stays, and as a result were maternally deprived) before the age of 4
- As teens, 68% maladjusted.
Describe the findings of Billulco’s Study into Depression as a result of maternal deprivation
Women who were maternally deprived as children were more likely to experience anxiety and depression
What is Affectionless Psychopathy?
A type of psychopathy characterised by an inability or difficulty feeling empathy or guilt
Describe Bowlby’s 44 Thieves Study
- Interviewed 44 criminal thieves and assessed them for signs of affectionless psychopathy
- He also interviewed their families to determine whether they’d been maternally deprived as children.
What were the findings of Bowlby’s 44 Thieves Study?
Out of the 14 thieves he classified as affectionless psychopaths, 12 had been maternally deprived.
What animal study supports Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation?
Harlow
What are some practical applications of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory?
- Changing legalisations in terms of hospital visitations
- Mothers made more informed of the risk factors involved with maternal deprivation
Why has Bowlby’s 44 Thieves Study been criticised? (2 Examples)
- Bowlby failed to distinguish which thieves had been maternally deprived and which had been privatised
- Potential investigator bias, as Bowlby was the one conducting the interviews
