Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Effects of institutionalisation, including the English and Romanian Adoptees project

Maternal Deprivation

The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a mother and a child

Maternal Deprivation Theory

An early and prolonged separation from the primary caregiver could have detrimental effects on a child’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development.

Separation

The emotional disconnect to of a bond due to the child no longer being presence of the attachment figure

Deprivation

The attachment between an infant and primary caregiver is broken

Critical Period

A specific time in which an event must occur for psychological development (first 2 and a half years of life)

Institutionalisation

The effects of growing up in an orphanage or institution

Rutter (2011)