Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation

Question 1

What is Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation?

Answer 1

-Long term separation (maternal deprivation) from primary attachment figure within the critical period has serious consequences

Question 2

What serious consequences can maternal deprivation cause?

Answer 2

Consequences are on a child’s Intellectual, social and emotional development

Question 3

What was Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation- The critical period

Answer 3

-The first 30 months is the critical period for psychological development

-If a child’s deprived of emotional care from a mother figure for an extended period, psychological damage is inevitable

Question 4

What are the 3 effects of Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation?

Answer 4

-Effects on intellectual development (low IQ)- kids raised in orphanages have lower IQ

-Effects on emotional development
(Can lead to affectionless psychopathy)

-effects on social development (more likely to show delinquent (criminal) behaviour

Question 5

What is affectionless psychopathy?

Answer 5

A lack of emotional connection, empathy and guilt towards others

Question 6

Give 2 strengths of Bowlbys maternal deprivation

Answer 6

Supporting evidence

Real life application

Question 7

What supportive evidence is there for maternal deprivation?

Answer 7

Bowlbys interviewed 44 thieves for signs of affectionless psychopathy and compared criminals to disturbed children

-32% of criminals had affectionless character and 86% had experiences maternal deprivation

-showing early depriviaion caused affectionless psychopathy

Question 8

Give a counter of 44 thieves study

Answer 8

It’s only a correlation between maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy as there’s no manipulation of the IV to see the effects on the DV therefore a 3rd factor variable could be linking maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy

Question 9

How does bowlbys maternal deprivation study have real life application?

Answer 9

Social workers now understand the consequences of a lack of primary attachment.
-Foster carers encouraged to form attachments with children in care
-Inc the validity of the study

Question 10

Give a limitation of Bowlbys maternal deprivation study

Answer 10

Czech twin from 18 old and locked in cellar for 7 years with no primary attachment. They had no long lasting effects

-Showing that the effects of maternal deprivation can be reversed and aren’t inevitable as Bowlbys stated