Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation

• What is the maternal deprivation theory?

  Disruption to the maternal bond in early life (critical period): leads to later emotional problems
• What is the difference between separation and deprivation?

  Separation simply means the child not being in the presence of the primary attachment figure. This only becomes an issue in development if the child is deprived, i.e. they lose an element of her care. Brief separations particularly where the child is with a substitute caregiver, are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to deprivation, which by definition causes harm
• What is meant by the term 'maternal deprivation?'

  The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation between a child and his/her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that continuous care from a mother is important for normal psychological development , and that prolonged separation from this adult causes serious damage to emotional and intellectual development.
• What is the critical period?

  Bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for psychological development. If a child is separated from their mother in the absence of suitable substitute care and so deprived of her emotional care for an extended period during this critical period then (Bowlby believed) psychological damage was inevitable.
• What happens if a child is separated from their mother and there is no mother substitute during a child's critical period?

  Psychological damage was inevitable
• What are the effects of this on development?

  Intellectual development and emotional development
• What is intellectual development?

  Bowlby believed that if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period they would suffer delayed intellectual development, characterised by an abnormally low IQ. This has been demonstrated in studies of adoption, e.g. Goldfarb (2007) found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher standard of emotional care
• What is emotional development?

  Bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others. This prevents the person developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality. Affectionless psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their actions.