Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

• Bowlby (1951) proposed that prolonged deprivation would have long-term social, emotional & intellectual consequences.
• Deprivation refers to the breakdown of the attachment bond & the loss of the emotional care provided by the attachment figure.
• 1. Bowlby believed that children needed a 'warm, intimate & continuous relationship' with the mother/ permanent mother- suitable to ensure continuing normal mental health.
• 2. If the attachment relationship is broken or disrupted during the critical 2-year period, the child will suffer inevitable & irreversible long-term consequences of this maternal deprivation. This risk continues until the age of 5.

  This is linked to the development of the internal working model- if attachment bond is disrupted, then the infant fails to learn that they can trust others, that they are valuable or that they can effectively interact with others.
• 3. Bowlby suggested some possible long-term consequences of maternal deprivation include:

  • Attachment issues
  • Delinquency (behaviour issues in adolescence)
  • Reduced cognitive abilities (including intelligence)
  • Affectionless psychopathy (inability to show remorse/ concern for others).
• 44 Juvenile Thieves Bowlby Study (1944):

  • Aim= to see whether there is a link between delinquency & maternal deprivation.
  • Procedure: Bowlby analysed the case histories of a number of his patients in the child Guidance Clinic in London where he worked. All the children attending the clinic were emotionally maladjusted.
  • He studied 88 of these children- half has been caught stealing & the other half were a control group (had emotional problems but hadn't committed crimes).
• 44 Juvenile Thieves Bowlby Study (1944) findings:

  • Bowlby suggested that some of the "thieves" were affectionless psychopaths; they lacked normal signs of affection, shame or sense of responsibility. Such characteristics enabled them to be "thieves"; they could steal from others because it didn't matter to them.
  • Bowlby found that those individuals diagnosed as affectionless thieves had experiences of frequent early separations from their mothers.
  • 39% of juvenile thieves had been separated from their mothers for 6 months + during their first 5 years of life. Of these, 32% showed affec psychop
• 44 Juvenile Thieves Bowlby Study (1944) findings:

  • Of the thieves with affectionless psychopathy, 86% had experienced a long period of maternal separation before the age of 5 years.
  • Bowlby concluded that maternal deprivation in the child's early life caused permanent emotional damage or even a mental health disorder.
• Evaluation for the theory of maternal deprivation- strength:

  • Research support- Bowlby's (1944) 44 thieves study found that maternal deprivation was linked to an emotional disturbance- he termed affectionless psychopathy which may cause delinquency.
  • Provides valid evidence for the theory.
• Evaluation for the theory of maternal deprivation- strength:

  • Positive application.
  • Bowlby's theory & research has had huge influences on child care practices which previously focused solely on physical needs, but now also tend to the children's emotional needs.
  • For example, previously when children spent time in hospital, visiting discouraged, but now there are more visiting nights.
  • The work on maternal deprivation led to changes in these kinds of policies & therefore improved the well-being of children.
• Evaluation for the theory of maternal deprivation- weakness:

  • Not all cases of deprivation have produced inevitable, irreversible, negative outcomes.
  • Koluchova (1976) reported the case of twin Czech boys who were isolated from the age of 18 months until they were 7 years old.
  • They were then looked after by 2 loving adults & appeared to fully recover emotionally, socially & intellectually.
  • Indicates that there is some flexibility & maybe some the critical period would be better termed the 'sensitive period', ie where attachment is more likely.
• Evaluation for the theory of maternal deprivation- weakness:

  • It is determinist to say that all prolonged separation will lead to inevitable & irreversible consequences.
  • Many mediating factors have been identified, eg Barrett (1997) found that securely attached children can sometimes cope well with separation, whereas insecure children become especially distressed.
  • Indicates maternal deprivation hypothesis does not take account of individual differences.