Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Theory
- Created by: emmarhianne
- Created on: 12-04-17 13:18
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- Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Theory
- Deprivation: A prolonged period of separation from the mother which leads to an element of care being lost.
- Separation: A brief separation from the primary attachment figure, normally a substitute caregiver will be present instead.
- Maternal Deprivation: A prolonged period of separation form the mother (or mother substitute) which leads to an element of care being lost, it can lead to being damaged intellectually and emotionally.
- Bowlby argued if a child experiences prolonged periods of separation from their mothers this results in severe negative consequences on a child's emotional and intellectual development
- Separation: A brief separation from the primary attachment figure, normally a substitute caregiver will be present instead.
- Bowlby believed effects of deprivation were inevitable if an infant was separated from their mother with no suitable care provided, during the critical period.
- Intellectual effects: Deprivation will result in abnormally IQ, Goldfarb found children who remained in institutions showed lower IQ rates than children cared for in foster homes. Deprivation can therefore effect intellectual development negatively.
- Emotional Effects: Affectionless psychopathy; a child who is deprived of emotional care from its mother does not have the ability to feel guilt or remorse for their actions and strong emotions for others. This prevents the person from developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality. They can't appreciate the feelings of the victim so lack remorse for their actions,
- Intellectual effects: Deprivation will result in abnormally IQ, Goldfarb found children who remained in institutions showed lower IQ rates than children cared for in foster homes. Deprivation can therefore effect intellectual development negatively.
- Research evidence to support: Bowlby's 44 thieves: examined the link between psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
- 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing, all 'thieves' were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy. Their families were also interviewed to establish prolonged separation from the mother. A control group of non-criminal but emotionally disturbed young people were used.
- 14 out of 44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths and out of these, 12 had experiences of prolonged separation formt he mother in the first 2 years of their life; control group; only 2.
- Shows that most of the thieves with prolonged separation were affectionless psychopaths, not all were so there must be another reason why they stole. Therefore support the assumption that deprivation can lead to affectionless psychopathy.
- 14 out of 44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths and out of these, 12 had experiences of prolonged separation formt he mother in the first 2 years of their life; control group; only 2.
- Methological issues: Bowbly conducted himself so may be biased, he may only look for what he wanted to find, weakening the study as supporting evidence.
- 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing, all 'thieves' were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy. Their families were also interviewed to establish prolonged separation from the mother. A control group of non-criminal but emotionally disturbed young people were used.
- Research evidence to challenge: Koluchova conducted research into twin boys who were isolated from 18 months when mother died, they were found at 7 years old and adopted by 2 sisters. They appeared to recover from the experience where their IQ improved to average and developed healthy relationships.
- Suggests that being an affectionless psychopath isn't inevitable and critical period is only a sensitive one when considering the effects of maternal deprivation.
- Postive impact in real world: Marked a shift in the care provided during hospitalisation of children. Historically when a child was hospitalised the parents would be encouraged to visit little as it was thought to distress when they left; hindering recovery and cared for by nurses.
- After the research the care was changed whereby parents are encouraged to stay with their children and play an active role in recovery and same nurses care for child; preventing maternal deprivation occurring.
- Bowlby has been criticised by Rutter as he believed Bowlby failed to distinguish between deprivation and privation (failure to form an attachment). Rutter believed that the long term consequences Bowlby was describing were a result of privation. Such criticisms would discredit Bowlby's maternal deprivation theory completely.
- Deprivation: A prolonged period of separation from the mother which leads to an element of care being lost.
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