Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

• outline continuity

  a good quality, continuous relationship with a mother figure is necessary for healthy emotional development
• outline critical period

  if no attachment formed within 2.5 years then attachment will not occur

  • then later proposed a sensitive period of 5 years where attachment is still possible but takes longer and is more difficult
• define affectionless psychopathy - consequence of MD

  • occurs from lack of continuity in critical period
  • may appear like lacking remorse, guilt or empathy
• define social development issues - consequence of MD

  • occurs from lack of opportunity to form social skills and relationships
  • may appear like struggle to build relationships
• define cognitive development issues - consequence of MD

  • occurs from lack of continuous stimulation and brain damage
  • may appear like low IQ or struggling with tasks
• define behavioural issues - consequence of MD

  • is a coping strategy
  • disregard for consequences
  • may appear like delinquency
• evaluate theory of MD (STRENGTHS)

  • Bowlby's 44 thieves study = prolonged separation creates affectionless psychopathy
  • Harlows monkey study = monkeys that were maternally deprived had long term negative effects
• evaluate theory of MD (LIMITS)

  • Bowlby's 44 thieves study is flawed = Bowlby conducted the interviews himself = suggests the results were open to bias as Bowlby knew which teenagers he expected to show affectionless psychopathy.
  • Czech twins case study = suffered severe emotional abuse from 18 months - 7 years. However they recovered fully bc of good aftercare. Suggests long term damage is not inevitable and critical period is better seen as a sensitive period.
• outline Bowlby's 44 thieves study

  • studied the link between affectionless psychopathy and maternal deprivation
  • studied 44 teenage criminals
• results of Bowlby's 44 thieves study

  • 14 out of 44 had affectionless psychopathy
  • 12 out of those 14 had experienced maternal deprivation
  • suggests that prolonged separation leads to affectionless psychopathy = validates Bowlby's theory of continuity