Maternal Deprivation Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation?
It suggests that failure to initiate or maintain a maternal attachment can lead to serious consequences, including affectionless psychopathy.
Bowlby’s theory emphasizes the importance of maternal care in child development.
What does Bowlby’s critical period refer to?
It refers to a critical period of 2.5 years for developing an attachment; if not developed during this time, it may not happen at all.
Bowlby later proposed a sensitive period extending up to 5 years.
What are the potential consequences of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?
Consequences may include:
* Affectionless psychopathy
* Increased aggression
* Depression
* Delinquency
These outcomes are linked to early separation from the mother.
What was the key study conducted by Bowlby in 1944?
The key study was ‘44 Juvenile Thieves,’ which involved an opportunity sample of 88 children, including 44 juvenile thieves and 44 control participants.
The study aimed to assess the relationship between early separation and emotional issues.
How were participants selected for Bowlby’s 1944 study?
Participants were selected from a clinic where Bowlby worked, with 44 being juvenile thieves referred for stealing, and 44 as controls for emotional problems.
The control group had not committed any crimes.
What assessments were conducted on the children in Bowlby’s study?
Each child underwent:
* IQ testing by a psychologist
* Emotional attitude assessment
* Parental interviews for early life details
These assessments provided insights into the children’s backgrounds and emotional states.
What did Bowlby find regarding affectionless thieves in his study?
Bowlby found that 86% of affectionless thieves had experienced early separation from their mothers.
This contrasted with only 17% of other thieves who had similar experiences.
What percentage of control participants in Bowlby’s study reported early separation?
None of the control participants had reported early separation.
This highlights the significant difference between the two groups in terms of maternal attachment.
What is affectionless psychopathy?
It is a condition characterized by a lack of emotion or empathy, often linked to early separation from the mother.
Bowlby used this term to describe certain behaviors observed in juvenile thieves.
True or False: Bowlby believed that early separation could lead to affectionless psychopathy.
True.
Bowlby’s findings suggested a direct correlation between early maternal separation and the development of this condition.
