Bowlbys Theory Of Maternal Deprivation & Romanian Orphan Studies

Question 1

What is maternal deprivation

Answer 1

It refers to the separation between a caregiver and a child

Question 2

What is the consequences of maternal deprivation

Answer 2

Intellectual or emotional effects

Question 3

Who proposed the theory of maternal deprivation and what was stated and why

Answer 3

Bowlby
He stated being separated from maternal figure during critical period has negative irreversible effects on development if appropriate care is not provided this is because mother love for infancy is important for mental health

Question 4

Bowlby thieves study procedure

Answer 4

Studied 88 children from the child guidance clinic who were emotional maladjusted
- 44 were accused of stealing
- 44 made up control group
All thieves interviewed for signs of being affection less psychopaths it was suggested that this characteristics enabled the children to be theives
Families were interview to see whether thieves had prolonged periods of separation from caregiver

Question 5

Findings of Bowlby thieves study

Answer 5

• 14 of 44 thieves as affectionless psychopaths 12 of these experienced prolonged periods of separation from caregiver in first two years
• 5 of the thieves had experienced prolonged separation
• 40% of group experienced prolonged separation
• of control group only 2 had experienced prolonged separation
  Bowlby concluded that prolonged and early separation from caregivers is liked to affectionless psychopathy

Question 6

Difference of seperation and deprivation

Answer 6

Separation is when the child is not in the presence of pramry caregiver deprivation refers to a lack of emotional care

Question 7

What intellectual effect does maternal deprivation cause

Answer 7

Delayed intellectual development
Low iq

Question 8

What emotional effects does maternal deprivation cause

Answer 8

Affectionless psychopathy
Lack of empathy, guilt and struggle to form relationships
More likely to engage in criminal behaviour

Question 9

What is the critical period according to bowlby

Answer 9

Bowlby proposed first two years of child life is critical period in emotional and psychological development

Question 10

Research evidence to support Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis

Answer 10

Bowlbys 44 thieves study - 14/44 thieves are affectionless psychopaths 12 of which experienced prolonged periods of-separation
Goldfarb looked at kids who spent up to 3 years in care the done an IQ test and found those who spent most time in care had a lower IQ

Question 11

Limitation of Bowlbys maternal deprivation - correlational

Answer 11

Only correlational
Can not infer causation there is no control so many factors may lead to emotional social problems

Question 12

Strength of Bowlbys maternal deprivation is practical application

Answer 12

Bowlby changed how people thought about rearing and caring for children
- positive impact on how children treated during separation from parents in hospital stays etc
- stopped orphanage
-

Question 13

Limiatation of Bowlbys maternal deprivation is confusion tween deprivation and privation

Answer 13

Deprivation = attachment already formed is broken
Privation = absence of something desired/needed
Ritter observed that affection less psychopathy is more likely to be result of privation rather then deprivation
- children of the 44 thieves study has disrupted early lives meaning they never formed attachment in the first place
Suggest bowlby pleased too much cause on deprivation

Question 14

Limitation of bowlby maternal deprivation - overemphasis on critical period

Answer 14

Czech twins experience extreme deprivation locked in a upboard then stayed with loving people
This disrupts the maternal deprivation hypothesis and suggests it is a sensible period not critical