Unit 1 - Classic Research: Bowlby (1944) 'Forty-four juvenile thieves: their characters and home-life' (findings and conclusions)

How many groups were participants in the experimental group categorised into?

Six - normal, depressed, circular, hyperthymic, affectionless and schizophrenic.

How many of the experimental group were in each category?

Normal - 2

Depressed - 9

Circular - 2

Hyperthymic - 13

Affectionless - 14

Schizophrenic - 4

Only 2 of the 44 were diagnosed as normal. It was believed that without treatment, the other 42 would develop neurotic or psychotic symptoms later in life.

What do these diagnosis groups tell us?

In the majority of cases, those who steal have experienced emotional disturbances. The most common factors were genetics, separation from mother and having an ambivalent mother. These factors were present in 40-50% of the cases.

What percentage of the thieves had experienced prolonged separation (at least 6 months) from their mothers?

40% compared with only 5% of the control subjects.

How many of the affectionless thieves had experienced prolonged separation early in their lives?

12 of the 14 compared to only 5 in the entire control group.

What do these findings suggest?

There is a high degree of association between Affectionless Character and history of mother-child separation. It did not make a difference if the separation was from the child’s biological mother or foster mother, it still had the same negative impact.

What did Bowlby conclude in regards to maternal separation?

If it had not been for certain factors (maternal separation) inhibiting the development of the ability to form relationships, it is possible that the 44 thieves would not have become offenders.

What did Bowlby conclude that delinquent behaviour was likely a consequence of?

Multiple complex factors, however, he emphasised the importance of psychoanalytic factors. The findings confirm the assumption of childhood experiences and their importance in the development of a person’s character.