To determine if there is a correlation between maternal deprivation in infancy and adolescence
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What type of study was used? What experimental design was used?
Longitudinal Case study & Interview & a Matched Pairs Design
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Describe the participants: THIEVES
44 thieves (31 boys/13 girls)who were aged between 5 and 17 years old. Grade IV thieves were the 22 children who had stole for a long time; Grade I thieves were the 4 children who committed one theft. Thieves had a mainly average intelligence
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Describe the participants: NON-THIEVES
44 non-thieves who were matched on age, sex and IQ. The control group were also emotionally disturbed, like the thieves,but did not steal.
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What type of sample was used?
Opportunity sample of 88 children in total
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Describe the procedures of the 1st study
A clinical psychologist ran an IQ test & tested emotional attitudes towards test- this was done upon arrival to the clinic. Psychologist found that all pps were similar in IQ and in age
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Describe the procedures of the 2nd study
A social worker ran the interview with a child's parent - the social worker recorded details of the child's early life
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Describe the procedures of the 3rd study
Bowlby himself interviewed the child & mother to see if the responses given by the parent matched the child; school reports were considered. Many children continued to meet Bowlby weekly over 6 months & mothers discussed issues with social worker
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Describe Bowlby's findings of the 6 personality types
Bowlby found 6 personality types that determine what may have led the thieves to steal: Normal, Depressed, Circular, Hyperthymic, Affectionless & Schizoid
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Describe Bowlby's findings of the Affectionless Character
14 thieves were found as 'affectionless' & 12 of these had early separations from their mothers. E.g. Betty I was placd in a foster home at 7 months old when parents split & moved from foster home to another; she only returned home at 5 years old
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Describe Bowlby's findings of the Non-Affectionless Character
30 thieves were non-affectionless &only 5 experienced early separations. 17 thieves experienced early separations& 17 hadmothers who were 'extremely anxious, irritable...these traits covered unconscious hostility'
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Describe Bowlby's main conclusion
Juvenile delinquency is a result of factors: poverty, bad housing & lack of recreational facilities.
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How does Bowlby's theory support the psychodynamic approach?
Supports psychodynamic view that early experiences are key for later development. Mother-child relationship is key to emotional development; damage to this will cause a weak superego (decreased sense of morals). Healthy development means no offenders
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Evaluate the methodology -NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP
Although it seems like prolonged separation caused emotional problems, this was not manipulated. Extraneous variables may have caused emotional problems e.g. conflict at home may have caused mother-child prolonged separation & affectionless character
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Evaluate the methodology - SAMPLE
All 88 children were emotionally disturbed thus, cannot be generalised. Delinquency may be caused by social issues rather than emotional disturbances = low population validity. Examining children in court determine whether delinquency is similar
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Evaluate the methodology - BIASED DATA
Rich qualitative data was collected but it's participant bias (based on one viewpoint). Bowlby's perceptions were researcher bias & based on own beliefs = low internal validity. Also, case studies were based on past events = low internal validity.
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Evaluate the findings & conclusions - SEPARATION ALONE DOESN'T CAUSE DAMAGE
It is criticised that Bowbly confused several experiences - separation alone may not cause long-term damage, especially if the child receives good substitute care. Also, a child can recover from a lack of emotional care before 6 months.
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Evaluate the findings & conclusions - SUPPORT EVIDENCE
Rutter et al compared Romanian orphans who were adopted before/ after the age of 6 months. Those who continued to have a lack of emotional care after this time were behind UK control group. Lack of care causes serious lasting consequences
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What type of study was used? What experimental design was used?
Back
Longitudinal Case study & Interview & a Matched Pairs Design
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