Maternal deprivation hypothesis (MDH)

What are key features of Bowlby’s theory that links to MDH?

Critical period (2 ½ years of life)
Monotropy

Negative effects of MD

emotional, behavioural and personality problems
intellectual delay
relationship problems
poor physical development

What were 3 phases Bowlby found when kids separated from parents? (PDD)

Protest - crying, screaming
Despair - not engaging with others
Detachment - responds to others in unemotional way

Evaluation of Robertson and Robertson’s study

-ethical issues regarding filming children
-some info may be biased as they looked after some kids
+rich qualitative data
+good ecological validity

Practical implications of research on disruption of attachment

-parents allowed to stay with kids in hospital
-advice to divorced parents
-more support set up for kids

Rutter (2007, 2011) method

studied 165 Romanian kids who were in institution, all since 1-2 weeks old
all adopted before 3 ½
matched with control group of 52 UK kids
assessed at 4,6,11,15 on social, emotional and physical functioning

Rutter (2007, 2011) results

Romanian kids at 4 showed intellectual delay
stunted growth but recovery by 11
kids adopted after 6 months showed poor emotional development

Rutter conclusions

children can recover especially if they are adopted early

Practical implications from research

-kids now in foster care instead
-institutions minimise staff turnover
-adoption wanted early as possible

Limitations of Rutter’s study

no knowledge of kids history before institution like medical
lack of data from adulthood
kids from very poor institutions, so less generalisable