define maternal deprivation
losing emotional care that is normally provided by the infants mother
what are some effects of maternal deprivation
(think PIES)
Physical = deprivational dwarfism
Intellectual = mental retardation
Emotional = poor mental health
Social = aggression, relationship issues etc.
what did bowlby believe ongoing maternal deprivation could lead to?
negative effects on a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual and social development
-affects of maternal deprivstion would be most acute during critical period
describe the method of the 44 Juvenile Thieves study conducted by Bowlby regarding his Maternal deprivation Theory
- Bowlby examined children age 5-16 who were referred to guidance clinic
- 44 criminal children were compared to 44 non criminal participants (control group)
- bowlby interviewed the children and their families to get sense of early life experiences
describe the results of the 44 Juvenile Thieves study conducted by Bowlby regarding his Maternal Deprivation Theory
-identified 14 out of 44 thieves as affectionless psychopaths
-12 out of 14 psychopaths had experienced early and prolonged deprivation
-only 17% of ‘other’ thieves had same separation
-4% of control group had early seperations
what are some overall A03 points of Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Theory?
-supporting research✅
–> Furstenberg and Kiernen + divorced children
-opposing evidence❌
–> Koluchova + czech twins
-supporting evidence✅
–> Rodgers and Pryor + divorce/behavioural issues
-supporting evidence✅
–> Curtiss + Genie’s case
describe an A03 point of Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation regarding Furstenberg and Kiernen’s supporting evidence
- found children who experienced divorce score lower on social, emotional and physical development
- suggests divorce has negative effect on children’s development
- In line with Bowlby’s TMD
describe an A03 point of Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation regarding Koluchova’s opposing evidence
- reported on 2 Czech twins who’s mum died after birth
- were kept in basement by step mum and beaten
- were discovered at age 7, underdeveloped in all aspects
- after intensive therapy, boys were nearly at a normal intellectual, physical and emotional stage by age of 14
- both went on to have good careers and healthy relationships
- shows that maternal deprivation set-backs arent always permanent
–>disagrees w/ Bowlby
describe an A03 point of Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation regarding Curtiss’ supporting research
- studied Genie, a girl who was strapped in potty chair until age 13 and had no human interaction
- she couldn’t stand, speak and had no social ability, this continued inter adult life
- shows how maternal deprivation can have permanent non-reversable effects –> agrees w/ bowbly
describe an A03 point of Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation regarding Rodgers and Pryor’s supporting research
- found children who experienced 2+ divorces had lowest adjustment rates and most behavioural problems
- suggests continual broken attachments increases chance of negative outcomes
- supports Bowbly
describe the context around the Romanian Orphanage study
- under 1990’s dictatorship, parents could not cope with strict abortion bans
- record number of children placed in orphanages
- at the end of the 30 year regime, more than 100 000 children were reported in 600 state orphanages
- these orphanages had a lack of nourishing food, toys and social interactions + little love and care
what was the method of Rutter’s ‘English and Romanian (ERA)’ study regarding the Romanian orphans?
- 165 children who spent early years in orphanage were studied
- 111 of them were adopted before 6m/o, others were adopted before age 4
- RO’s were compared with 54 British children who were adopted before 6m/o
-the social, cognitive and physical development were examined and interviews were conducted with adoptive parents and teachers
what were the results of Rutter’s ‘English and Romanian (ERA)’ study regarding the Romanian orphans?
- at point of adoption, RO’s had delayed development in terms of social, cognitive and physical progress
-HOWEVER, almost all who were adopted before age of 6m caught up to British group - those adopted after 6m/o showed deficits of social, cognitive and physical development
- they were more likely to have relationship issues
what were the conclusions of Rutter’s ‘English and Romanian (ERA)’ study regarding Romanian orphans?
- stated Bowlby’s critical period is better described as a ‘sensitive period’
- means that there is an optimum period for forming attachments, but it’s not impossible to form them after age of 2.5 if adopted into loving family
describe the method of The Bucharest Early Intervention Project done by Zeenah regarding the Romanian orphans
- sample of 100 children age between 12m/o and 31m/o, 90% of which sent most of their lives in orphanage
- compared to control group who had never been institutionalised
- using “Strange Situation’ methodology, researchers assessed infants’ attachment type
- institution carers and parents were asked about aspects of childrens’ behaviour eg: clinging, attention seeking and behaviour towards adults
what are the findings of The Bucharest Early Intervention Project done by Zeenah regarding Romanian orphans
- 3/4 of control group were classified as securely attached
- less than 1/5 of institutionalised infants had secure attachment
- 65% of institutionalised orphans appeared to have disinhibited attachment
what were the conclusions of the Bucharest Early Intervention Project done by Zeenah regarding Romanian orphans
- infants who spent early years in institution w/o primary attachment figure are less likely to develop secure attachment
- as a result are more likely to experience disinhibited attachment
what are some overall A03 points of the Romanian Orphan studies?
-Rutter’s research was longitudinal✅
–>valid results
-deprivation is only one factor in development❌
–>cant assume results are sole affect of deprivation
-real word application✅
–>useful
-issues with generalising❌
–>lacks external validity due to unusual situational variables (political context)
describe the A03 point of the Romanian orphan studies regarding Rutters use of a longitudinal study
- research took place over many years so could assess both short and longterm affects of institutionalisation
- results are valid representation of effects of institution care
- also portrays results of receiving emotional care post institution
describe the A03 point of the Romanian orphan studies regarding only focusing on deprivation
- deprivation wasn’t the only issue
- lack of mental stimulation and nourishment also plays a part
- so difficult to interpret the results of studies as there is more than one influences that affected the children
describe an A03 point of the Romanian Orphan studies regarding real world application
- Rutter’s study helped the way kids are looked after, especially in adoption process
- historically mums left their babies for long periods of time, by which critical period may pass
- now infants are adopted as early as 1 week old
-Singer states that kids are as securely attached to adoptive parents ad biologically related families
describe as A03 point of the Romanian Orphan studies regarding generalising issues
- conditions of orphanage were so dire they can’t be considered typical
- results from RO study don’t represent all situations where kids are placed in care
- lack of external validity as a result of unusual situational variables due to harsh political regimes at the time
what does Bowlby’s Monotropic theory argue?
childhood relationships set the scene for later adult relationships
- evolutionary theory which argues that attachments have evolved for the survival and protection of infants
describe the role of the Internal Working Model proposed by Bowlby regarding the influence of early attachment
- expectations about how to relate to others, formed by early experiences w/ PCG and type of attachment formed
- infants learn what a relationship is, how its formed, behaviour patterns etc.
- IWM can predict likely outcomes of behaviour in childhood/adulthood
