Maternal Deprivation

• What does Monotropic Theory argue about healthy development?


  It argues that healthy development depends on attachments forming between the infant and the primary caregiver (PCG).
• What does the Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (MDH) explain?


  It explains the consequences of infants being deprived of their monotropic attachment.
• What are the short-term responses of a child to separation according to the Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis?


  1. Protest - child is upset, confused, and cries a lot.
  2. Despair - child becomes withdrawn and protests less.
  3. Detachment - child appears recovered but shows little interest in the caregiver.
• How do individual differences affect recovery from maternal deprivation?


  Intelligent, more stable children cope better than those from difficult family environments.
• What are the long-term effects of maternal deprivation?


  It can cause serious and long-term damage to a child’s emotional, social, and intellectual development.
• What can poor intellectual development due to maternal deprivation lead to?

  Bowlby believed it could lead to “retardation” and abnormally low IQs.
• What is affectionless psychopathy?


  It is the inability to feel guilt or strong emotion for others, linked with criminality.
• What was the procedure of Bowlby's 44 thieves study (1944)?


  • 44 teenagers accused of stealing were interviewed.
  • Their childhoods were examined for separations from their mothers.
  • Compared to a control group.
• What were the findings of Bowlby's 44 thieves study?


  14 out of 44 were affectionless psychopaths, and 12 of these had experienced prolonged separations.
• Why is researcher bias a concern in Bowlby's 44 thieves study?


  Because it can lead to subjectivity and lack of objectivity in assessments.
• What is a problem with the retrospective nature of Bowlby's study?


  Participants might not accurately remember their childhoods, leading to low internal validity.
• What does social desirability bias (SDB) refer to in the context of Bowlby's study?


  It refers to participants providing answers they think are more socially acceptable rather than their true experiences.
• What did Goldfarb (1947) find regarding orphaned children?


  The fostered group had an average IQ of 96, while the orphanage group had an average IQ of 68.
• What does Goldfarb's study suggest about deprivation and intellectual development?


  It suggests that deprivation can cause poor intellectual development.
• What is a limitation of Goldfarb's findings?


  It only shows a correlation, and causation cannot be established.
• What did Lewis (1954) find in his replication of Bowlby's study?


  A history of early prolonged separation did not predict criminality or difficulty forming relationships.
• How does Lewis's study contradict Bowlby's findings?


  It suggests that maternal deprivation does not necessarily lead to poor emotional development.
• What does the case of Genie illustrate about maternal deprivation?


  • Genie was denied human interaction and suffered severe neglect.
  • She showed poor intellectual development with an IQ of 38 initially.
  • After therapy, her IQ improved to 74, but she never fully recovered.
  • This supports the Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis.
• What does the case of the Czech Twins suggest about maternal deprivation?


  • The twins were locked in a cellar for 5.5 years.
  • They were underdeveloped and did not understand speech initially.
  • After therapy, they achieved near-normal functioning by age 14.
  • Suggests that long-term effects of maternal deprivation are not always permanent.
• How does the recovery of the Czech Twins challenge the concept of a critical period?


  It suggests that the critical period may be more of a sensitive period since they recovered after severe deprivation.
• What might explain the difference in recovery between the Czech Twins and Genie?


  The twins were able to attach to each other and comfort each other, which may have aided their recovery.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of using case studies as evidence for or against theories?


  Strengths:

  • Rich in detail with qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Provides subjective insight.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low population validity; cannot generalize from one case study.
• What criticism do researchers have regarding the irreversible effects of deprivation?


  Some children, like the Czech twins, have recovered, indicating that effects are not always permanent.
• What distinction does Rutter make regarding deprivation and privation?

  Rutter argues that a lack of an attachment bond (privation) is more serious than the loss of one (deprivation).
• What are the practical applications of Bowlby's work?


  • Led to changes in how children are cared for in hospitals.
  • Allows parents to stay with their children, improving quality of life.
• What is a limitation of correlational research in the context of maternal deprivation studies?


  It makes it difficult to conclude that childhood deprivation causes adult issues due to intervening variables.
• Why is the maternal deprivation theory considered socially sensitive?


  It implies that mothers should not leave their children, especially in the critical early years, which can pressure mothers to stay home.
• What does Schaffer (1990) suggest about mothers who work compared to those who stay at home?


  Children develop better with a mother who is happy in her work than with a frustrated mother at home.