AO1

• What is maternal deprivation?

  Emotional/intellectual consequences of separation between child and mother
• What was Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?

  Continuous care from mother is essential for psychological development
• What is the difference between separation and deprivation? How are they connected?

  • Separation: Child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure
  • Deprivation: Child loses an element of care from being separated
  • Connection: Extended separations lead to deprivation = harm
• What is the critical period in Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation?

  • First 2 ½ years is the critical period for psychological development
  • Child maternally deprived of care for an extended period during critical period = psychological damage
• What are the effects of maternal deprivation on development?

  • Intellectual Development: Experience delayed intellectual development = low IQ GOLDFARB = found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions (orphanages) as opposed to those who were fostered
  • Emotional Development: Bowlby: affectionless psychopathy = inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others, no normal relationships, criminality, lack remorse
• What was Bowlby's 44 thieves study?

  • Examined link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation
  • PROCEDURE: 44 criminal teenagers interviewed for affectionless psychopathy & families interviewed for early prolonged separations from mothers
  • CONTROL GROUP = non-criminal teens
  • FINDINGS: 14/44 thieves = affectionless psychopathy - 12/ 44 = prolonged separation from mothers in first 2 years of life - 2/ 44 control group = experienced separations
  • Prolonged early separation = affectionless psychopathy