Bowlbys monotropic theory

• 44 theives study

  • sample was opputinity, 88 children attending his clinic
  • group 1: 44 thieves - referred to him because of stealing
  • group 2: 44 non-thieves referred to him because of emotional problems
  • two groups matched for age and IQ
  • the children and their parents were interviewed and tested by bowlby focusing on their early life experiences
• findings of the 44 thieves study:

  • 14 children from the 44 thieves were deemed affectionless psychopaths
  • 12 of these 14 had experienced prolonged seperation for more than 6 months from their mothers in the first 2 years of life
  • only 5/30 thieves who were not affectionless psychopaths had experienced such separations
  • the control group had only 2 children with prolonged seperation and neither were affectionless psychopaths
• conclusion of the 44 thieves study

  • higher number of prolonged seperation in the thieves - social maladjustment
• the maternal deprivation hypothesis suggests that

  • continual disruption of the attachment between the infant and primary caregiver could result in long-term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties for the infant
• bowlby argued that if, during the critical period (2.5 years) the child was separated from their primary attachment figure for an extended period of time and in the abscence of subsititute care, that damage was inevitable
• the effects of maternal deprivation include

  • social issues - can be harder to form friendships
  • emotional issues - affectionless psychopathy: inability to show strong emotion towards other, a a lack of shame or responsibility, likely to act on impulse with little regard for consequences intellectual issues - mental retardation, characterised by an abnormally low IQ (reasearch support shows that infants adopted sooner have a higher IQ than those adopted later)
• Research support of the maternal deprivation hypothesis

  • Harlows monkeys
  • showed that monkeys reared in isolation from their mothers
  • showed emotional and cognitive problems when older
  • stayed away in the corner when mixed with other monkeys
  • some who went on to have their own children were seen to act aggressively, even dragging their own children’s faces across the floor
• ++ practical application of maternal deprivation hypothesis

  • in maternity units, mothers are now allowed to sen more time which babies
  • parents of sick infants visiting hoirs have been extended, to allow the formation of a secure attachment and avoid prolonged seperation
  • children in care homes are assigned a key worker to prevent the negative consequences of the deprivation of a primary attachment
• -Bowlby ignored the idea of substitute care

  • social factors of the situation, such as good substitute care when the primary caregiver is absent is ignored by the maternal deprivation hypothesis
  • deprivation can be avoided is good quality substitute care e.g from a childminder can be provided
  • and research also shows that the effects of deprivation can be reversed, unlike bowlbys claim
• — the maternal deprivation hypothesis puts unfair pressure on mothers

  • the maternal deprivation hypothesis pushed the idea that if mother were to be absent eg return to work
  • that their children would suffer major, irreversible consequences
  • this may create unnecessary guilt and shame for mother, making them feel pressured to not return to work