Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

Bowlby’s 44 thieves - aim

Answer 1

To examine the link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation

Question 2

Bowlby’s 44 thieves - procedure

Answer 2

A sample of 44 criminal teens accused of stealing. All of them were interviewed for signs of AP : lack of affection, guilt if their actions, empathy for their victims. Their families were interviewed to establish if the teens had prolonged early separation from the mums. A control group if non criminal but emotionally disturbed young people was set up too.

Question 3

Bowlby’s 44 thieves - findings

Answer 3

Bowlby found that 14/44 thieves were AP’s, 12/14 experienced prolonged separation from their mums in the first 2 years of their lives. Only 5 of the remaining 30 thieves experienced separations. Prolonged early deprivation caused AO

Question 4

What are the effects on development?

Answer 4

Intellectual development - Bowlby believed that if kids were deprived of maternal care during the critical period, they would experience delayed intellectual development with low IQ.

Emotional development - Bowlby identified AP as the inability to experience guilt or strong emotions towards others, which prevents a person developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality