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 essential for psychological development.
The critical period
If the child is separated from their mother and so are deprived of emotional care for an extended duration during the first two-and-a-half years of their life, then Bowbly believed that psychological damage is inevitable. He also believed that there was a continuing risk up to the age of five.
Effects on development (intellectual development)
Bowlby believed that if children were deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period they would experience delayed intellectual development. William Goldfarb found that children in institutions had a lower IQ than those who were fostered and thus had a higher standard of emotional care.
Effects on development (emotional development)
Bowlby identified 'affectionless psychopathy' as the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards others. This prevents a person developing fulfilling relationships and is associated with criminality; affectionless psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their actions.
