Bowlby Maternal deprivation

• Bowlby argued long term deprivation from attachment figure could be harmful, he produced his maternal deprivation hypothesis
• Deprivation from main carer during critical period will have harmful effects of child's emotional, social, intellectual and physical development
• Long-term effects of deprivation may include separation anxiety. Leads to behaviour problems such as avoiding school. Future relationships may be affected
• Bowlby (1944), 44 thieves study, Method

  Case studies completed on background of the 44 teens

  Stealing

  Control group of 44 emotionally disturbed teens who hadn't been caught stealing
• Bowlby (1944), 44 thieves study, Findings

  • 17 of thieves experienced frequent separations from mother before age of 2 (it was 2 in the control group)
  • 14 of thieves described as affectionless psychopaths (12/14 experienced separation from mother)
• Bowlby (1944), 44 thieves study, Conclusion

  Deprivation of child from its main carer in early life can have very harmful long-term consequences
• Bowlby (1944), 44 thieves study, Evaluation

  • Link between deprivation and criminal behaviour
  • Can't make a cause and effect
  • Detailed but relied on retrospective data (unreliable)
• Strengths of Bowlby maternal deprivation hypothesis

  • Other evidence supporting claims
  • Goldfarb found orphanage children socially and maternally deprived were less socially developed
• Weaknesses of Bowlby maternal deprivation hypothesis

  • Linked behaviour to deprivation but other things not considered
  • Poverty a factor