Maternal deprivation

• The critical period

  What do you remember about this?

  Bowlby proposed that there was a critical period from about 6 months to 2 years when infants should have continuous, unbroken relationship with one person (Monotropism).

  If  a child is separated from their mother (without a substitute for their emotional care) for an extended time during the first 30 months, then psychological damage is inevitable
• Maternal deprivation hypothesis 

  Bowlby came up with the ‘maternal deprivation hypothesis.’

  He states that “children should experience a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with his mother/mother substitute in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment.”

  He also believed this is innate and a variation selected through evolution for survival of young.
• KEY STUDY: 44 thieves - Bowlby (1944)

  Aim: This study examined the links between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation. 

  Procedure: They used a sample of 44 teenage delinquents (accused of stealing). 

  • The pts were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy. Their families were also interviewed to establish if there was prolonged early separation from their mothers. 

  A control group of 44 non-criminal teenagers, with emotional problems were all assessed to see how often maternal deprivation occurred to the children who were not thieves.
• KEY STUDY: 44 thieves - Bowlby (1944)

  Findings: 

  • 14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths and 17/44 had maternal separation. 
  • Of the 14 that were affectionless, 12 also had experienced prolonged separation in the first two years of life.
  • In the control group 2/44 had maternal separation but 0/44 were categorised as affectionless psychopaths. 

  Conclusion: Prolonged separation/deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
• AO3 - Evaluation

  (+) Real life application

  Bowlby’s theory had an enormous impact on post-war thinking about childrearing and also on how children were looked after in hospitals.

  Visits were often discouraged or forbidden in hospitals

  = His work led to a major social change in the way children were cared for in hospital
• AO3 - Evaluation

  (+) Animal studies have demonstrated maternal deprivation

  Levy et al (2003)

  Separating baby rats from their mother for as little as a day had permanent effect on social development
• AO3 - Evaluation

  (-) Privation or deprivation

  Rutter criticised Bowlby’s use of the term deprivation.

  He drew a distinction between deprivation (= loss of primary attachment figure after attachment) and privation (= failure to form attachment).

  He claimed that the severe long term damage Bowlby associated with deprivation is actually more likely to be the result of privation.
• AO3 - Evaluation

  (-) Critical period or sensitive period?

  Bowlby uses critical period: believed that separation during that period causes damage if within that period.

  HOWEVER, some research show that damage is not inevitable.

  Example: Koluchova (1976) Czech Twins:

  • Isolated at 18 months until they were 7.
  • Then were looked after by 2 loving adults and appeared to recover fully.

  = this shows that the period identified by Bowlby may be sensitive but cannot be critical