Bowlby`s theory of maternal deprivation (1951)

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the theory focusses on the idea that the continual presence and nurture of a mother figure is essential for normal psychological development of babies and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually - being separated from a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal deprivation).

Separation vs Deprivation:

separation means the child is not in the presence of the primary attachment figure. this only becomes an issue for development if the child is deprived (they lose and element of her care for example). brief separations, particulalry where the child is with a substitute caregiver, are not significant for development but etended separations can lead to deprivation, which by definiton causes harm.

Critical Period:

Bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for psychological development. if a child is separated from their mother in the absence of suitable substitute care and so deprived of her emotional care for an extended period durig this critical period then (Bowlby believed) psychological damage was inevitable.

Effects on development:

Intellectual Development: if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period they would suffer delayed intellectual development, characterised by abnormally low IQ. this has been demonstrated in cases of adoption (Goldfarb 1947 found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher standard of emotional care)

Emotional Development: Bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as the inabilty to experience guilt or strong emotion for others. this prevents the person developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality. affectionless psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of their victims…

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