44 Juvinille Thieves were studied (aged between 5 and 16 years old).
Bowlby worked at the detention centre where the offenders were currently at.
17 out of the 44 had been seperated from mother before the age of 5.
14 of these 17 were classed as affectionless psychopaths (no remores or guilt).
12 of these 14 had suffered long maternal seperation.
Bowlby concluded their behaviour was caused by maternal seperation.
This study supported his theory that maternal seperation has negative consequences (maternal deprivation hypothesis)
However this study may have been prone to reseracher bias, as Bowlby worked with the juvinille thieves.
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Robertson and Robertson
observed hospitialized children.
focused manily on a young boy called John (17 months old).
noticed a 3 stage distress syndrome (PDD)
Protest, Despair, Detachment
Protest - overt distress
Despair - calmer and unresponsive
Detachment - indifferent
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Evaluation of Disruption of Attachment
seperation does not always disrupt bond (foster parenting).
RD - reactive attachment disorder = Foollan and Minnis - rexamined Bowlby's 44 Thieves and compared to control concluded that early disruption is a factor of RAD.
Correlational or Causal? - unethical to control human contact so rely on case studies and reterospective information e.g. 44 thieves. Reterospective = unreliable
studies into attachment provide essential information about attachment, however they may not be applicable now as parents stay with children in hospital.
Bowlby's Theory's were good for the time (war) when men were away from children. But when times change, theories are questioned.
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