Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation

What is maternal deprivation

Child loses an element of emotional care during the critcal period

due to separation for an extended period of time

How long is the critical period in maternal deprivation

2.5 yrs

What happens if separation continues beyond the critical period

Irreversible + inevitable psychological damage

What are the three consequences of maternal deprivation

• Delayed intellectual development (low IQ)

• emotional problems

• affectionless psychopathy

What is delayed intellectual development

Lower IQ and poorer cognitive development

What emotional problems can maternal deprivation cause

Difficulty forming successful relationships due to negative internal working model

What is affectionless psychopathy

Lack of guilt empathy and remorse often linked with criminality

What research did Bowlby conduct to support maternal deprivation

The 44 thieves study

What was the aim of the 44 thieves study

To investigate whether affectionless psychopathy was linked to prolonged separation from the mother

Who took part in the 44 thieves study

44 juvenile thieves

and a control group of 44 non criminal children

How was data collected in the 44 thieves study

Interviews and questionnaires with children and families

How many thieves were identified as affectionless psychopaths

14

How many affectionless psychopaths had experienced periods of extended separation

12

What conclusion did Bowlby draw from the 44 thieves study + Evidence

Maternal deprivation in the critical period can lead to affectionless psychopathy

12/14 thieves experienced extended periods of separation

What is socially sensitive about Bowlbys theory

It can create guilt and anxiety in mothers

How did Bowlbys theory affect hospital care

Hospitals changed rules to allow parents to visit children more often

How did Bowlbys theory influence childcare practices

Greater emphasis on maintaining parent child contact

What did conditioning research on Romanian adoptees find

Children adopted before 6 months were able to recover emotionally with good care

Why does Romanian adoptee research challenge Bowlby

It suggests deprivation effects are reversible

What is privation + why is it relevent

Failure to form an attachment in the first place

Bowlby may have confused deprivation with privation

delete

It may blame mothers for later psychological problems in their children

Name 2 limitations

• Socially sensitive

leads to guilt and anxiety in working mothers

• Confliciting evidence

Rutter et al, if adopted before 6 months they recovered emtionally

goes against critical period