maternal deprivation - bowlbys theory

• what is the difference between seperation and deprivation?

  • Separation is that child not being in the presence of the PAF
  • Deprivation is extended separations 
  • This can cause harm
• what is the critical period?

  • First 2 and a half years is for psychological development
  • If a child is deprived of emotional care during this period there was a high risk of damage 
• what is development ?

  • intellectual development can be characterised in abnormally low IQ
  • Goldfarb found children who grew up in institutions had lower IQs than children who were fostered and had more care 
  • Children can develop affectionless psychopathy where they cannot experience guilt or strong emotions towards others. They become associated with criminality 
• what was Bowlby's study?

  • Examined 44 thieves 
  • They were interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy 
  • Their families were also interviewed 
  • They were compared with a control group of 44 non criminal but emotionally disturbed people 
  • 14/44 showed signs of affectionless psychopathy and 12 of these had prolonged separation from their mothers in the 1st 2 years of their lives 
  • 2/44 in the control group had experienced long separations 
  • Prolonged separation/deprivation can cause affectionless psychopathy 
• what is a limitation for bowlbys study?

  Bowlby could have been biased as he knew which children were more likely to show signs of psychopathy He was also influenced by Goldfarb’s study but it had confounding variables as they had experienced trauma as well as prolonged separation. His evidence has flaws
• what is a strength from bowlby?

  Levy et al showed separating rats from their mother for even a day can show a permanent effect on their social development Supports bowlby
• is deprivation right ?

  Rutter said deprivation refers to the loss of the PAF after the attachment is formed whereas privation is when it has failed to take place in the first place The long term damage is more likely to do with privation Overestimated deprivation in the development 
• what is wrong about the critical period?

  The czech twins experienced extreme abuse until they were 7 years old They received excellent care by their teens and were recoveredHarm may not last even in severe privation Sensitive period is better than a critical one