maternal deprivation

• define maternal deprivation

  separation between a caregiver and a child
• what are the consequences of maternal deprivation?

  emotional and intellectual
• who proposed the theory of maternal deprivation?

  bowlby in 1954
• what was the study used to investigate maternal deprivation?

  bowlby's 44 thieves study in 1944
• outline the procedure of the 44 thieves study

  88 children from london who were emotionally maladjusted

  • 1/2 were accused of stealing and other 1/2 were control group
  • interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy
  • interviewed families to establish prolonged periods of separation
  • compare data to control group
• explain the findings of bowlby's 44 thieves study

  • 14 of the 44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths
  • 42% had prolonged separation
  • 17% had similar results in control group
• define separation

  child is not in the presence of their primary attachment figure
• define deprivation

  lack of emotional care
• outline the effect of separation on child development

  no significant effect as long as there was a substitute caregiver to provide nurture, comfort, physical and emotional care
• what's the effect of extended separations?

  deprivation causing emotional and developmental harm
• outline the critical period that bowlby proposed

  first 2 years of a child's life is a critical period in emotional and psychological development

  • prolonged or frequent separation can lead to psychological damage
  • risk of damage continues until the age of 5
• what did bowlby suggest that maternal deprivation would lead to?

  consequences on intellectual and emotional development
• explain the consequences on intellectual development

  prolonged separation and deprivation leads to delays in intellectual development

  • Goldfarb - children who weren't adopted had lower IQs than those fostered or adopted
• explain the consequences on emotional development

  • those with delayed or limited emotional development are affectionless psychopaths
  • difficulties in developing normal relationships
  • associates with criminality
• define affectionless psychopaths

  lack emotion or affection toward others and lack remorse for their actions
• weakness - overemphasis

  • bowlby's 44 thieves
  • confounding variables e.g. trauma
  • reduces validity
• strength - animal studies

  • harlow
  • adult monkeys showed significant emotional and social problems
  • long-term issues
• strength - real-world relevance

  • importance of continuous and stable attachment
  • detrimental effects of prolonged separation
  • practical application to hospitals and childcare