Bowlby (1944) - Classic Evidence (Psychodynamic)
- Created by: chlopayne
- Created on: 16-04-19 17:30
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- Bowlby (1944) - 44 Juvenile Thieves
- Argued that prolonged separation from the mother during childhood can cause long lasting psychological problems.
- Bowlby noted 9/10 criminal cases is theft - a target amount being young people.
- Bowlby aimed to see if there was an association between delinquent behaviour and separation from the mother.
- Case study on 44 thieves and comparison groups of 44 'normal' children.
- Bowlby aimed to see if there was an association between delinquent behaviour and separation from the mother.
- Bowlby noted 9/10 criminal cases is theft - a target amount being young people.
- Methodology
- Case study on 44 thieves and comparison groups of 44 'normal' children.
- 44 thieves: children where stealing was a problem and referred to Child Guidance Clinic.
- Over half were under the age of 11. 31 boys and 13 girls - unusual (10 boys to 1 girl).
- The Binet Scale was used to assess children's intelligence, generally average or above.
- Control group: 44 children from the same clinic, who had not stolen were chosen. Same age, intelligence and economic status.
- The mothers: the mothers of both groups were involved in the study to give background of the children.
- Procedures
- Opportunity sampling
- Initial examination (2 hours) : children were given mental tests to assess intelligence and emotional attitude.
- Social workers interviews children mothers about childs history.
- This was reported to Bowlby, he then interviewed the child.
- Finally, they all came together and discussed conclusions.
- This was reported to Bowlby, he then interviewed the child.
- Social workers interviews children mothers about childs history.
- Therapy: Children met with the psychiatrist weekly over 6 months+.
- Mothers talked problems with the social worker.
- Enabled a detailed case history to be recorded.
- Diagnose child's emotional problems.
- Enabled a detailed case history to be recorded.
- Mothers talked problems with the social worker.
- Findings
- 44 thieves were categorised into six groups - normal, depressed, circular, hyperthymic, affectionless + schizoid.
- There was a difference between the type of characters found in the criminal group and the control group.
- Thieves in the affection less group would steal more consistently and seriously.
- 14 children classified as affection less, 12 experienced separations from mothers.
- 27 thieves who didn't experience separation, 17 had poor relationships with mothers.
- Six of the thieves had issues with fathers.
- 27 thieves who didn't experience separation, 17 had poor relationships with mothers.
- 14 children classified as affection less, 12 experienced separations from mothers.
- No affection less characters amongst the controls.
- Only two of the control group had experienced prolonged separations.
- Control group report similar numbers of poor relationships, leads to emotional problems. Cannot completely account for criminal activity,
- Only two of the control group had experienced prolonged separations.
- Bowlby found traumatic events in childhood could account to delinquent behaviour. 11 cases where a traumatic event lead to stealing.
- Genetics could also be a factor. 4 of the thieves had psychotic parents. 11 thieves had one neurotic parent. 3 had relatives with epilepsy.
- 44 thieves were categorised into six groups - normal, depressed, circular, hyperthymic, affectionless + schizoid.
- Evaluation
- Methodology + procedures
- No causal findings. May be other factors included.
- Biased data
- Data is rich, in depth and qualitative. Argued it has high ecological validity.
- Data may lack validity. Vulnerable to researcher bias, Bowlby did much of the research + diagnoses.
- No use of double blind design. He may have over reported incidents of separation in the thief group.
- Nature of study means it can not be replicated and lacks reliability.
- The sample: not representative- majority of thieves aren't referred to clinics. Amount of boys and girls weren't representative
- The sample: only those children who had been caught thieving.
- Control group were patients at the clinic he worked at. These children suffered from psychological and emotional issues.
- Ethical issues
- Social implications; his study highlighted importance of maternal care. More rights for mothers.
- However, emphasis on the mother means any problems could be blamed on the mother.
- Oversimplification, mental illness and emotional problems are complex.
- However, emphasis on the mother means any problems could be blamed on the mother.
- Social implications; his study highlighted importance of maternal care. More rights for mothers.
- Methodology + procedures
- Conclusions
- Genetic factors: Children who have parents / grandparents with mental illness are more likely to have health problems and develop criminal behaviour.
- Data is limited. Evidence of mental health of parents is incomplete. Even with relevant information, it would be impossible to separate inherited factors to influence from parents.
- Cannot conclusively state whether behaviour is due to influence of genes or influence of unstable parents.
- Data is limited. Evidence of mental health of parents is incomplete. Even with relevant information, it would be impossible to separate inherited factors to influence from parents.
- Early home environment: His conclusions focus on the influence of childhood experiences.
- Experiences of thieves in early and later childhood experiences could explain delinquent behaviour.
- Argued that problems with forming a good relationship with the mother would affect the development of the superego.
- Experiences of thieves in early and later childhood experiences could explain delinquent behaviour.
- Implications for treatment: slow and difficult. Main reason is because condition has been present in the child for several years and an established part of their psychology.
- Genetic factors: Children who have parents / grandparents with mental illness are more likely to have health problems and develop criminal behaviour.
- Argued that prolonged separation from the mother during childhood can cause long lasting psychological problems.
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