maternal deprivation: bowlby's theory Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is Bowlby known for?
~ monotropic theory of attachment
~ theory of maternal deprivation
What is the focus of the theory of maternal deprivation?
The idea that continual presence of care from a mother is essential for normal psychological development.
What did Bowlby famously say?
‘Mother-love in childhood is as important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health.’
What are the consequences of being separated from a mother in early childhood?
Serious consequences (maternal deprivation).
What is separation?
The child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure.
When does separation become a problem?
If the child becomes deprived of emotional care.
When are brief separations not significant for development?
When the child is with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care.
What can extended separations lead to?
Deprivation, which causes harm.
What did Bowlby see as the critical period for psychological development?
0 - 2.5 years
What did Bowlby believe about separation from the mother during the critical period?
Psychological damage was inevitable.
How does maternal deprivation affect intellectual development?
Can cause delayed intellectual development, characterised by abnormally low IQ.
Who found lower IQ in children who remained in institutions?
Goldfarb
What is affectionless psychopathy?
The inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others.
What does affectionless psychopathy prevent?
A person developing fulfilling relationships and is associated with criminality.
What did Bowlby’s 44 thieves study examine?
The link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
What was the sample in Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?
44 criminal teenagers accused of theft (44 juvenile thieves).
What characteristics were the ‘thieves’ interviewed for?
Signs of affectionless psychopathy: a lack of affection, lack of guilt for their actions, lack of empathy for their victims.
What did Bowlby find in his 44 thieves study?
14 of the 44 thieves could be described as affectionless psychopaths and 12 of these had experienced prolonged separations from their mothers during the critical period.
What was a limitation of Bowlby’s theory?
Poor quality of the evidence.
Why is Bowlby’s 44 thieves study flawed?
Bowlby himself carried out the interviews and assessments, which left him open to bias because he knew in advance which teenagers he expected to show signs of affectionless psychopathy.
What problems did Goldfarb’s study have?
“Problems of confounding variables”
What did Frederic Lévy et al. (2003) show?
“Separating baby rats from their mother had a permanent effect on their social development”
What is deprivation?
“The loss of the primary attachment figure after attachment has developed”
What is privation?
“The failure to form any attachment in the first place”
