Disruption of Attachments

The Disruption of Attachments

The PDD model

·         Protest (cry)

·         Despair (give up, feel loss, think caregiver will  not return)

·         Detachment

Bowlby (1944) 44 Thieves Experiment

·         Participants: 88 children ranging from 5-16years old and ‘thieves’

·         Affectionless psychopath = where there was frequent separations from the child when young

·         86% were thieves and diagnosed AP

·         % of thieves that were not diagnosed with AP = 17%

·         Findings suggests link between early separations and later social behaviour with emotional maladjustment ARROW supports Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

·         First published in 1951

·         Bowlby believed that during development emotional care was as important as physical care

·         Need mother’s emotional care to ensure normal mental health

·         Child who denied this care because of frequent or prolonged separations will become emotionally disturbed. If this happens before the age of 2 ½ there is no substitute mother available

·         This risk can continue till the age of 5

Effects of Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

Goldfarb (1943)

·         Studies 2 groups of children

·         1 group raised in complete social isolation in an institution

·         Others raised by foster parents

·         15 children in each group, aged between 6months and 3 years

·         Institution…