Bowlby and the 44 juvenile thieves

• Bowly and the 44 juvenile thieves and their home life aimed to focus on the mother-child relationship, considering the mothers conscious and unconscious influence on their children; establishing causation to thieving in adolescents.
• Bowlby (Methodology)

  • Participants: aged 5-17, 31 boys and 13 girls, 27 with average IQ, 15 with higher IQ and 2 with lower IQ, 22 grade 4 thieves and 4 grade 1 thieves
  • occurred in a guidance clinic in London
  • case study
  • opportunity sample
  • Control group: 44 children of similar age, IQ , sex and economic status, also emotionally disturbed but didn't steal.
• 1. Sample gained through opportunity sample
• 2. On arrival at the clinic, each child is given mental intelligence tests by a psychologist
• 3. Psychologist takes notes on the emotional attitude of the child
• 4. Social worker interviews the mother, recording preliminary details on the early psychiatric history of the child
• 5. Both social worker and psychologist report to Bowlby
• 6. After the 2-hour exams, the team considers school and other reports and discusses their conclusions
• 7. Meetings and discussions enable a detailed case history to be established and for Bowlby to diagnose the children's emotional problems
• 8. Many children meet with the psychiatrist (Bowlby) weekly over 6 months or more
• 9. Mother talks over problems with social worker
• Bowlby Findings ('Character Types)

  • Normal (2) - characters that appear fairly normal and stable
  • Depressed (9) - unstable characters in a depressed state of mind
  • Circular (2) - show alternating depression and over-activity cycle
  • Hyperthymic (13) - demonstrates constant over-activity
  • Affectionless (14) - lacks a normal sense of affection, shame and responsibility
  • Schizoid (4) - shows marked schizoid or schizophrenic symptoms
• Bowlby Case Study - Case 37 Kenneth G 'Affectionless'

  • referred to clinic aged 12 for cruelty to younger children at school, grade 4 and just completed a year on probation for forging a cheque
  • put into a foster home and then adopted by a loving, married couple
  • brought back home when mother remarried after 3 years (no sense of attachment)
  • did not show affection and was often disobedient
  • enjoyed making his mother and step siblings cry, once burning his younger sisters leg

  
• Bowlby Case Study - Case 19 Ronald H 'Hyperthymic'

  • referred at age 7 by headmistress for stealing
  • unplanned birth, mother neglected him during early life to help sickly older brother
  • active, inquisitive and friendly but 'too affectionate'
  • 'bought' popularity at school by giving away stolen money and sweets
  • when confronted, confessed, cried and was uncertain on his motive
  • had a boasted manner and exaggerated desire, developed as a reaction to neglect from his mother