5 - Bowlby's theory of Maternal Deprivation

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation.

Bowlby’s Theory of maternal deprivation (AO1)

• maternal deprivation is where a child is separated from their mother for an extended period of time

• can lead to reduced IQ, affectionless psychopathy and difficulty forming new relationships

• disruption of the caregiver-infant bond in the first 2 years of the child’s life (critical period) can have significant impacts on the child’s life

• if the original mother is replaced with a new caregiver, the effects of maternal deprivation may be avoided

• irreversible effects

Bowlby’s Theory of maternal deprivation (AO3) - 44 thieves

A strength of the theory of maternal deprivation is that there is research evidence to support this

Bowlby (1944)

• studied 44 teenage delinquents accused of stealing for signs of affectionless psychopathy

• families of the delinquents were interviewed to determine if there was prolonged early separation from their mothers

• found 14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths and 17/44 had maternal deprivation

• 12/14 affectionless psychopaths also had maternal deprivation

• 2/44 children in the control group had maternal deprivation and 0 were affectionless psychopaths

suggests that maternal deprivation increases the probability of affectionless psychopathy

Bowlby’s Theory of maternal deprivation (AO3) - intellectual deficiency

A strength of the theory of maternal deprivation is that there is research evidence to support this

Goldfarb (1955)

• followed 2 groups totalling 30 orphaned children up to age 12

• Group 1 had been placed into foster care by 4 months of age

• Group 2 remained in an institution

• at age 12 they were assessed with the Stanford-Binet test and found group 1 had 96 IQ on average and group 2 had 68 IQ on average

• had difficulty forming relationships, being very withdrawn or extremely affectionate

• had poor language development

suggests that having no primary caregiver that they could attach to leads to disastrous consequences

Bowlby’s Theory of maternal deprivation (AO3)

A strength of the theory of maternal deprivation is that there is research evidence to support this

Bowlby’s Theory of maternal deprivation (AO3) - czech twins

A weakness of the theory of maternal deprivation is that research contradicts the idea that the effects of maternal deprivation are permanent

Koluchová (1976)

Romanian Orphans Studies (AO1)

Romanian Orphans Studies (AO3)

Romanian Orphans Studies (AO3)

Romanian Orphans Studies (AO3)

Romanian Orphans Studies (AO3)