Maternal deprivation - Bowlby’s 44 Thieves (1944)

Aim: To test if there is a link between affectionless psychopathy, maternal deprivation & criminality​.

Method: Interviews with 44 criminal teenagers and their families compared to interviews with a control group of emotionally disturbed non-criminal teenagers​.

Results: 14/44 thieves were described as affectionless psychopaths​.

• 12/14 had experienced prolonged separation in the first two years of their lives​.

• Only 5/30 non-affectionless psychopaths had experienced separation​.

• Only 2/44 in control group had experienced separation​. 

Conclusion:  Theory is valid - study suggests if a child experiences prolonged early separation/deprivation then they are more likely to be affectionless psychopaths. 

G: Hilda Lewis replicated the study on a larger scale of 500 young people. In her sample, prolonged separation did not predict criminality. :(

R: There is poor evidence on Bowlby's theory. He drew a number of sources from the orphanage during the second world war. This is flawed as war orphans were traumatized due to poor aftercare and war. Bowlby carried out the research himself which could have led to confirmation bias and Bowlby wanting to see his theory as true. :(

A: Adoption agencies can use this information to allow adoption in the critical period. :)

V: Participants lack internal validity to gain social desirability. E.g. lie about childhood. :(

E: Reminds the participants of their past traumas and psychological harm.:(