0.8 Role of the Father + maternal deprivation

what did Bowlby say about fathers

not as important as mothers

role is for play

what did Rutter say

fathers can be the primary caregiver and are just as important as the mother

what is important to consider in research

• reflexivity 

• socially sensitive research - ethics 

• implications - economic and social 

implications of bowlby’s view 

courts favouring mothers, fathers struggling to have custody of their own children 

fathers4justice

what other theory did Bowlby create

maternal deprivation hypothesis

maternal deprivation hypothesis

the first 2 ½ years = critical period

if a child is separated from mother for an extended period of time without suitable substitute caregiver, they can experience maternal deprivation

has bad consequences

consequences of maternal deprivation

• lower IQ / cognitive delay

• affectionless psychopathy

  • inability to show guilt, empathy or strong emotions

• difficulty forming future relationships

research support for maternal deprivation

bowlby - 44 juvenile thieves study

44 thieves compared to 44 controls - interviewed:

• children (for emotional/behavioural characteristics)

• parents (establish history of early separations)

what did he find in 4 thieves study

• 14/44 thieves diagnosed with affectionless psychopathy

• of the 14, 12 had experienced prolonged early separation from mothers

• in control group only 2 had experienced separations

so early maternal deprivation is strongly linked to

• affectionless psychopathy

• delinquent behaviour

what research disproves maternal deprivation

Koluchova Czech Twins study

what was the Koluchova Czech Twins study

• identical twin boys from Czechoslovakia

• suffered severe physical and emotional abuse

• from 18 months to 7 years they experienced:

  • no proper attachment figure

  • social isolation

  • extreme deprivation

what happened when the czech boys turned 7

adopted by loving foster parents

had stable, warm care and so rapidly improved

how do the czech twins disprove maternal deprivation hypothesis

by 14 they showed

• above average intelligence

• normal emotional relationships

• normal social functioning