evaluating bowlbys maternal deprivation theory

Question 1

practical application

Answer 1

a strength to bowlbys maternal deprivation theory is its practical application , this is because his theory draws attention to the importance of early years of a child life for their later development particularly the significance of forming a strong attachment bond with their caregiver
these ideas have shaped a number of key areas
- woman are entitled to a 52 week maternity leave to care for their child enabling them to form a strong relationship , this had recently been extended to their father, these changes have come inn part from the reswarch and ideas of bowlby ill;ustrating his impoertance and valuue of his ideas for the benefit of society

Question 2

practical application 2

Answer 2

bowlbys theory has helped in identifiying children who can be seen as vulnerable, in terms of maternal deprivation because of uncontrolled situations which resulted in maternal deprivation eg – being in hopsitals or parents unable to care for them so they have to be institutionalised, therefore this theory has showed the potential dangers and know how to help and support the childs development

Question 3

criticism theory (limtiations)

Answer 3

bowlby study into the 44 thieves was lacking a control group . there was no control group who wasnt transferred to bowlbys clinic they both were the study would have been much more valuable with a control group because without one it limits the extent to which bowlby can conclude that maternal deprivation is the key factor is causing the problem, perhaps in the control group there may have been children who potrayed the affectionless psychopathy tendencies suggesting another factor not included in this theory as a result this undermines the theory as the research it is based on can be questions

Question 4

limitations of the study in terms of bias

Answer 4

biased
this is because Bowlby himself carried out the assessment for affectionless psychopathy himself so he knew what he was hoping to find, he could have unconsciously interpreted what they said to fit in with his ideas more (or the participants which had periods of longer separation from the mother or showed lack of emotional attitude to the test the psychologists gave to them as both reports for the social worker and psychologist was given to bowlby for his assessment
he already was aware of the children’s history

retrospective data - much of the data gathered by the mother about the child is retrospective , mothers were interviewed about what had happened in the childs past, this could potentially lead to problems as she may selectively share events that could happen, avoid events that put her and her child in a bad light or inaccurately recall events that happen (overexaggerate/underexaggerate) this potential bias questions the validity of the research therefore undermining the validity of the theory itself

Question 5

limitations of the study :(

Answer 5

temporal validity
bowlbys study was conducted in the late 1930’s
- there is nhs avaliable
- universal credit to now help families
whilst these introductions of new systems hasn’t eridacted poverty it has improved child development in uk - reduced the need for children to steal
the way children are raised nowerdays are different to way that they were raised in the 1930’s
it undermines bowlbys maternal theory as it undermines the generalisibility of those results to this current time period

Question 6

do we have supporting evidence that supports bowlbys maternal deprivation theory?

Answer 6

No.
Lewis (1954) did a partial replication of bowlbys 44 thieves study but with 500 pps at mersham reception centre
they found that early prolonged separation (maternal deprivation) did not predict crimminal behaviour or problems with forming future relationships which bowlbys theory would have predicted

Question 7

real world supporting evidence?

Answer 7

No
Koluchova (1976)
whic undermines a key component of bowlbys theory that the effects of maternal deprivation are irreversible , which this real world study disproves
identical twin boys
their mother died
cared for authority
raised by father and new wife who maltreated them
when discovered they were less physically developed
did not understand the meaning of pictures

HOWEVER after these boys were rescued and recieved help, and being adopted by a dedicted woman they caught up with education with children their age, completed education and later got married and have children

Question 8

another research questioning bowlbys theory

Answer 8

• Michael rutter
  states that bowlby overstates the effects of deprivation
  and failed to make an important disctinction
• the complete lack of an attachment
• loss of an attachment figure
• separation from an attachment figure
  because the effects from these are all differet
  he particularly made a distinction between deprivation and privation
  -deprivation meaning the loss of a primary care giver
  privation - the failure to ever for m an attachment in the first place
  this challenges the idea of bowlbys theory becuase severe long term consequences are said to be due to privation instead of deprivation