Maternal deprivation

• separation: the child is not in the presence of their primary attachment figure
• deprivation: lack of emotional care from a primary attachment figure which can occur even if they are still physically present
• critical period: lasts until 2.5 years old. psychological damage is inevitable if the child is deprived of their primary attachment figure during this period. there is a continued risk up to 5 years old
• intellectual development: affected by emotional care. lack of can cause abnormally low IQ

  Goldfarb 1947 found Romania children in institutions had lower IQs than those fostered
• emotional development: comes from primary attachment figures emotional care, lack of causes affectionless psychopathy
• affectionless psychopathy


  inability to experience guilt or strong emotions towards other people, prevent normal relationship development, associated with criminality, cannot appreciate victims feelings so cant feel remorse
• aim of the 44 thieves experiment

  see if there is a link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation
• sample from 44 thieves

  44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing

  control group: 44 non criminal but emotionally disturbed teens
• 44 thieves procedure

  interviewed teens for signs of affectionless psychopathy

  interviewed family to see if the thief had a prolonged separation from their primary attachment figure in the first 2 years of life
• 44 thieves results and conclusion

  14/44 thieves had affectionless psychopathy

  12/14 of those had maternal deprivation

  5/30 left had been maternally deprived

  control group: 2/44 experience maternal deprivation

  maternal deprivation causes affectionless psychopathy and criminality
• 44 thieves study

  bowlby 1944
• maternal deprivation AO3 +

  + Levy 2003 - separating baby rats from their mother for 1 day had a permanent effect on their social development
• maternal deprivation AO3 x

  x research bias - Bowlby conducted all interviews and assessments so found what he hoped to find

  x no critical period in humans - Koluchova 1976 found twin Czech boys isolated from 18 months to 11 years were adopted and fully recovered showing deprivation can be reversed