maternal deprivation theory - Bowlby

• overview of bowlbys theory

  the continual presence of nurture from a mother or substitute is essential for emotional and intellectual development.

  separation in childhood has consequences
• separation?


  child not being in the presence of the primary attatchment figure
• deprivation?


  extended separation
• the critical period?

  -first 30 months = psychological development

  during this period, psychological damage is inevitable if an attatchment isnt formed
• effects on intellectual development

  -cognitive deficits (abnormally low IQ)

  -goldfarb study = found lower IQ in children who remained in institutions compared to children who were adopted
• effects on emotional development

  -affectionless psychopathy = inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others, associated with criminality
• affectionless psychopathy is the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others. it is associated with criminality
• AO3 - supporting evidence - bowlbys 44 thieves study


  -44 teenage thieves interviewed for signs of affectionless psychopathy and their families were interviewed about early deprivation

  -control group = not thieves but emotionally disturbed
• AO3 - supporting evidence - bowlbys 44 thieves study findings

  14/44 = affectionless psychopathy & 12/44 = early deprivation

  however in the control group only 2/44 = early deprivation
• AO3 - bowlbys 44 thieves study evaluation

  :( researcher bias - he carried it out and knew his aims (subjectivity in the interpretation of findings

  :( families could've lied in the interviews due to social desirability factors
• AO3 - counter evidence

  Lewis replicated the study with 500 young people and early deprivation did not predict criminality or difficulty forming relationships

  = there are other factors involved
• AO3 - sensitive not critical period 


  koluchova twins study - twins were kept isolated by step mother until they were 7 years old but they were then looked after by two loving adults and fully recovered

  = damage isnt reversible if they have social interaction and good aftercare