Maternal Deprivation

Question 1

what does this theory focus on?

Answer 1

continual care from mother/ mother figure is essential for normal psychological development

Question 2

what is separation and what is deprivation?

Answer 2

separation- child not in presence of PAF- only a issue if child deprived of emotional care, brief separations aren’t significant for development but extended separation can lead to deprivation.

Question 3

what is the critical period for psychological development? why is it critical?

Answer 3

first 2 1/2 years

if child separated from mum in absence of suitable care and deprived of emotional care for extended duration in this period psychological damage is inevitable.

Question 4

what does this deprivation effect in development?

Answer 4

Intellectual

Question 5

how does deprivation effect intellectual development?

Answer 5

if kids deprived of maternal care for too long in critical period they’d experience delays in intellectual development, have low IQ.
shown by GOLDFARB- low it in kids who remain in institutions as opposed to fostering

Question 6

how does maternal deprivation effect emotional development?

Answer 6

affectionless psychopathy prevents development of relationships and criminal acts as they can’t appreciate feeling of victims

Question 7

bowlby’s research- procedure and findings?

Answer 7

sample of 44 criminal teens accused of stealing. all ‘thieves’ interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy and families also interviewed to establish if they had prolonged separation from mum. the findings compared to a controlled group of 44 non criminal but emotional distress teens

found 14/44 could be described as affectionless psychopaths and 12 experienced prolonged separation in first two years of life. on 5 of the remaining 30 experienced separation. only 2/44 in control experience separation.

prolonged early separation = affectionless psychopathy