Maternal Deprivation

Flashcards covering Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation, its consequences, supporting studies, and criticisms.

What is Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?

Maternal nurture is essential for healthy psychological, intellectual, and emotional development, and deprivation leads to long-term consequences.

According to Bowlby, what is the critical period for maternal deprivation?

30 months

What are the potential consequences of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?

Inability to form later attachments, affectionless psychopathy, delinquency, and issues with cognitive/intellectual development, including low IQ.

What is the difference between separation and maternal deprivation, according to Bowlby?

Separation is simply the child not being in the presence of the caregiver, while deprivation is the extended separation leading to not recieving care.

According to Bowlby, how can maternal deprivation lead to Delinquency?

Due to delayed social development, behavior doesn’t develop according to acceptable norms causing the child to become criminal in nature and is often associated with affectionless psychopathy.

What is 'Deprivation dwarfism ' and how does Bowlby associate it with maternal deprivation?

Due to emotional deprivation, the child is physically underdeveloped.

How does Bowlby associate intellectual retardation/low IQ with maternal deprivation?

Due to delayed intellectual development as a result of lack of stimulation, general cognitive abilities are lower than average.

What is Anaclitic depression and how does Bowlby associate it with maternal deprivation?

This involves disturbed eating and sleep patterns, as well as impaired social and intellectual development.

What is 'Affectionless psychopathy ' and how does Bowlby associate it with maternal deprivation?

Due to delayed emotional development, children are unable to show caring behavior or empathy towards others, have little remorse/guilt for their harmful actions, prevents the person from developing normal relationships and is associated with delinquency.

What does Bowlby's 'Continuity hypothesis' suggest?

Suggests that the consequences are inevitable and irreversible. Extended separation and maternal deprivation limit the development of an internal working model – this is a blueprint and a model for future relationships. If this does not develop, future childhood and adult relationships are affected, as well as the child’s own parenting skills in the future – there is a continuation of poor relationships.

What was the aim of the '44 Juvenile Thieves' study conducted by Bowlby in 1944?

To examine the relationship between maternal deprivation, affectionless psychopathy, and delinquency.

What was Bowlby’s 44 thieves sample, and how was it collected?

88 PPs were selected from the clinic where he worked; 44 were thieves (were referred due to stealing) and 44 weren’t thieves (referred due to emotional problems)

What was the procedure of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?

All 88 PPs were IQ wastested by a psychologist who also assessed their emotional attitudes towards the tests. A social worker interviewed a parent to record details of the child’s early life (e.g. periods of separation). The psychologist and social worker made separate reports. Bowlby then conducted a separate interview with the child and accompanying parent to make any further conclusions (e.g. affectionless psychopathy)

Summarize Bowlby's 44 Juvenile Thieves Study findings on maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy.

14 thieves met criteria for affectionless psychopathy (0 controls). 12/14 affectionless thieves had extended separation from their mothers (2 controls). 17% of thieves without affectionless psychopathy experienced maternal deprivation. 86% of all thieves were diagnosed as affectionless psychopaths; few controls experienced prolonged separation.

What were the conclusions of Bowlby's 44 Juvenile Thieves study?

A higher proportion of thieves diagnosed with affectionless psychopathy had experienced extended separation from their mothers compared to a control group. Therefore, Bowlby concluded that long periods of maternal deprivation leads to permanent emotional damage, which he called emotional psychopathy

What are some criticisms regarding the generalizability of Bowlby's research?

Gender bias (all boys), making generalizations difficult.

What are some criticisms regarding the replicability of Bowlby's research?

It’s a natural experiment with low levels of control, so confounding variables such as poverty may have been involved in the relationship between maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy

What are some criticisms regarding the internal validity of Bowlby's research?

The findings are correlational; Bowlby assumed that maternal deprivation had resulted in delinquency, yet social factors such as poverty may have been responsible for this. Also, may suffer from researcher bias as Bowlby interviewed PPs. Interview is at risk of demand characteristics.

What are some ethical implications of Bowlby's research?

Bowlby’s research is socially sensitive as it has impacted social policy for child welfare in certain institutions. For example, increasing the ratio of carers to babies at nursery school, as focus is now centered on ensuring that young children receive adequate stimulation and attention during the critical period. Also, puts pressure on working mothers.

According to Rutter (1981), what did Bowlby fail to distinguish between?

Separation from an attachment figure, deprivation (loss of primary attachment figure), and privation (failure to form an attachment in the first place).