6) Bowlby’s maternal Deprivation theory

What is separation?

Separation means the child is not in the presence of the primary caregiver for a short period of time

What is deprivation?

Long term separation

What did Bowlby say about the critical period?

That the critical period for humans was 2 years but that there was continuing risk of deprivation up to the age of 5 year old

Outline the three consequence of deprivation during early childhood

Low iq, effectionless psychopathy, delinquency

What research supports Bowlby thesis that deprivation leads to low iq

Rutter ERA, found deprived children from Romanian orphanages had a mean iq score of 77 if adopted after 2 years

What is effectionless psychopathy?

The inability to feel guilt or strong emotions toward others which prevents the person from developing normal relationships and is often associated with criminality

What was aim of Bowlby (1944) study?

To explore the link between maternal deprivation and effectionless psychopathy

What was the procedure of Bowlby (1974) study?

44 teenagers who were accused for stealing were interviewed for signs of effectionless psychopathy, their families were also interviewed to discover attachment patterns. A control group of 44 non criminals but mentally disturbed young people was set up, none of them showed sign of effectionless psychopathy

What were the result of Bowlby (1944) study?

Out of the 44 thieves, 14 showed sign of effectionless psychopathy and 12 of them had experienced prolonged maternal deprivation

Why does Bowlby theory have real world application?

How children were looked after in hospitals and nurseries such as having a key worker

What are other supporting studies for the long term effect of maternal deprivation?

Harlow studies with monkeys that never experienced a mother

Why may Bowlby research contain bias?

It may contain interviewer bias because Bowlby conducted interviews himself and so many have influenced the findings

Why is it a flaw that Bowlby (1944) study is correlational?

Cannot establish cause and effect between maternal deprivation and emotional development, third variables like poverty, criminal relatives may have effected the results