Maternal deprivation

• Boulby's Theory or Maternal Deprivation


  Suggests that continual disruption of the attachment could result in long-term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties
• First 2.5 years of life


  • Crucial
  • If child was separated from primary attachment figure for extended period + absence of substitute care there would be inevitable damage
• Effects of maternal deprivation


  • Retardation
  • Delinquency
  • Depression
  • Affectionless psychopathy
• Affectionless psychopathy


  An inability to show affection or concern for others, act on impulse with little regard for consequences
• 44 Thieves Study


  • Aim: Investigate long term effects of maternal deprivation
  • Procedure: Opportunity sample of 88 children in clinic
  • Group 1: 31 boys, 13 girls - Thief group
  • Group 2: 34 boys, 10 girls - control group
  • Groups matched for age and IQ, interviewed on early life
• Support Study


  • Harlow-isolation affected monkeys
• • Real world application - Orphans now have to be in 1 stable home
  • Parents can stay 24/7 in hospital with child
• • Did not take into account quality of substitute care
  • Fail to distinguish between deprivation + privation
• Bowlby's research on maternal separation was conducted at the Tavistock Clinic, where he worked as an assistant psychologist.