Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation

• What is the main focus of the attachment unit discussed in the material?

  The focus is on healthy mother and infant attachments and the consequences of their disruption.
• What is maternal deprivation?

  Maternal deprivation refers to the interruption of the mother-infant bond during a critical period.
• Who developed the theory of maternal deprivation?

  John Bowlby
• What does privation mean in the context of attachment theory?

  Privation is the complete absence of any maternal care at all.
• What historical event is mentioned regarding Romanian babies?

  Thousands of Romanian babies experienced privation in the 1980s.
• What is the critical period for forming a monotropic bond according to Bowlby?

  The critical period lasts up to 30 months post-birth.
• What are the potential consequences of maternal deprivation according to Bowlby?

  Consequences include poor social development, emotional issues, and impaired intellectual development.
• What is affectional psychopathy?

  Affectional psychopathy is a lack of affection or genuine care for others.
• How does Bowlby’s theory relate to future relationships?

  The initial bond with the mother forms a foundation for future relationships and creates an internal working model.
• What does the continuity hypothesis suggest?

  The continuity hypothesis suggests that an ineffective internal working model leads to challenges in forming healthy relationships later in life.
• What was the aim of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study?

  To support his theory of maternal deprivation empirically.
• What did Bowlby find in his 44 thieves study?

  Thieves were more likely to have experienced prolonged separation from their primary caregiver during the critical period.
• What is a limitation of Bowlby’s research on maternal deprivation?

  It cannot establish causation due to its correlational nature.
• How has Bowlby’s attachment theory influenced public policy?

  It has influenced changes in hospital visitor policies to allow for consistent caregiver presence.
• What is a criticism of Bowlby’s emphasis on maternal deprivation?

  It may reinforce traditional gender roles by focusing primarily on mothers.
• What is the difference between deprivation and privation?

  Deprivation refers to insufficient emotional care, while privation is the complete absence of emotional care.
• What was the situation of Romanian orphans before the revolution in 1990?

  Many were abandoned and lived in horrific conditions in orphanages.
• What did the Rutter study reveal about the impacts of early privation?

  It revealed long-term impacts on development based on the age of adoption.
• What was the average IQ of children adopted after 24 months according to Rutter's study?

  The average IQ was 77.
• What does Rutter's study suggest about the timing of adoption?

  The timing of adoption plays a critical role in recovery from privation effects.
• What is a limitation of Rutter's study regarding the selection of adopted children?

  The non-random nature of adoption selection may lead to bias in the findings.
• What did Hodges and Tizard's 1989 study find about children adopted into nurturing homes?

  They fared better in behavior and peer interactions than those returned to hostile families.
• What did Goldfarb's 1947 investigation reveal about early fostering?

  Early fostering enhanced mental agility and sociability.
• What are the main findings of Rutter's study on Romanian orphans?

  • Children adopted before 6 months had normal IQs (average 102).
  • Children adopted after 24 months had lower IQs (average 77).
  • Disinhibited attachment was common in those adopted after 6 months.
  • Many children showed significant recovery when placed in nurturing homes.
• What are the implications of Bowlby's attachment theory on parenting and societal norms?

  • Emphasis on maternal care can reinforce traditional gender roles.
  • Increased maternity leave policies may affect workplace gender equality.
  • Public policies have shifted to prioritize consistent caregiver presence for children.