Evaluation

• What is a potential negative ethical implication of Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?


  It can be used as an excuse for committing crimes.
• How does Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation assume criminality?


  It assumes that criminality is deterministic.
• What is a challenge related to social desirability in Bowlby's theory?


  People may lie about being psychopaths to appear more favorable.
• Why is the validity of Bowlby's theory questioned?


  It relies on the memory of families, which may not be trustworthy.
• What issue arises from the reliability of Bowlby's study?


  It may be influenced by researcher bias and Bowlby's subjective understanding.
• What is one criticism of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?


  It lacks cause and effect.
• What did Goldfarb's research into IQ differences focus on?


  Orphaned children during World War II.
• What issue does Goldfarb's research highlight regarding historical validity?


  War orphans may have been traumatized, affecting their development.
• What does Bowlby’s theory fail to account for regarding children in low-quality institutions?


  They were deprived of many aspects of care, not just maternal care.
• What did Lewis (1954) find in her replication of Bowlby’s study?

  Prolonged separation from the mother did not predict criminality.
• Why is Lewis's study considered more reliable than Bowlby's?

  It had a larger sample size of 500 participants.
• What did Bowlby propose about the critical period for maternal deprivation?

  Damage is inevitable if deprivation occurs during this period.
• What did later research indicate about the outcomes of severe deprivation?


  Some cases have had good outcomes due to social interaction and good aftercare.
• What case did Koluchova (1976) report regarding maternal deprivation?

  Two twin boys were kept in a cupboard from 18 months to 7 years.
• What was the outcome for the twin boys after being found and cared for?


  They fully recovered intellectually and emotionally.
• Why might the results of Koluchova's case not be generalizable?


  It involved twins who were together the entire time, which may differ for an only child.
• What distinction did Rutter (1981) make regarding Bowlby's theory?


  He distinguished between deprivation and privation.
• How does Rutter define deprivation and privation?


  Deprivation is the loss of a caregiver after attachment; privation is the absence of a caregiver before attachment.
• What did Rutter claim about the long-term effects associated with deprivation?


  They were actually the result of privation.
• What is a key criticism of Bowlby's theory regarding explanatory power?


  It lacks credibility by not distinguishing between deprivation and privation.
• What are the main criticisms of Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?


  • Ethical implications: can be misused as an excuse for crime
  • Social desirability: reliance on accurate self-reporting
  • Validity issues: trust in family memory
  • Reliability concerns: researcher bias and subjectivity
  • Flawed evidence: lack of cause and effect, self-report issues
  • Contradictory evidence: Lewis's findings challenge Bowlby's conclusions
  • Critical vs. sensitive period: later research suggests damage isn't inevitable
  • Distinction between deprivation and privation: Rutter's critique
• What is the question often asked in exams regarding Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?


  Describe and evaluate Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation (16 marks).