Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, Maternal Deprivation & Critical Periods in Child Development

Maternal Deprivation

Limitation Rutter (1981) argued that Bowlby confused deprivation (loss of attachment) with privation (failure to form attachment).

Rutter (1981)

What study provides evidence against Bowlby's deprivation theory? Rutter (1981) - some children who spent long periods in institutions were later able to form strong attachments.

Bowlby's theory

What does Rutter's research suggest about Bowlby's theory? It suggests Bowlby may have overstated the effects of deprivation on development.

Practical Applications

Before Bowlby's work, people didn't understand the importance of the mother's role in a child's emotional development.

Law of continuity

What practical change resulted from Bowlby's theory? Parents are now encouraged to stay in hospitals with their children, based on the law of continuity and attachment importance.

Socially sensitive theories

What does this show about Bowlby's theory? It shows that socially sensitive theories like Bowlby's can have positive contributions to society.

The Critical Period

Koluchová (1976) Case study of twin boys who experienced severe physical and emotional abuse from 18 months to 7 years.

Koluchová twins

What happened to the Koluchová twins after their abuse? They recovered fully and were psychologically normal by age 14 after receiving proper care.

Critical period

What does the Koluchová study suggest about the critical period? It challenges the idea of a strict critical period by showing recovery is possible even after severe deprivation.

Conflicting Evidence

Lewis (1954) studied 500 young people and found no association between early separation and later psychopathy, criminality, or relationship difficulties.

Lewis's study

What was different about Lewis's study compared to Bowlby's? Lewis's research used a larger, more controlled sample and avoided biases found in Bowlby's original work.

Lewis's research

What does Lewis's research suggest about Bowlby's conclusions? It weakens the link between early deprivation and later negative outcomes proposed by Bowlby.