Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation

• Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

  Continued emotional care from mother is essential for emotional and intellectual development
• Separation from mother


  May lead to maternal deprivation
• Separation


  The child not being in the physical presence as the caregiver
• Deprivation


  When the child loses emotional care
• Critical period of 30 months


  • If a child is separated from their mother for an extended time during the first 30 months, this can cause permanent damage
• Deprivation of emotional care

  Lowers IQ
• Deprivation of emotional care

  Links to affection-less psychopathy, leading to the inability to feel guilt or strong emotions towards others
• Bowlby, 44 thieves study


  A study on 44 delinquent teenagers accused of stealing
• Procedure of the 44 thieves study


  1. The sample was 44 delinquent teenagers accused of stealing

  2. Family were also interviewed to establish any prolonged separations from their mothers

  3. All thieves were interviewed for signs of affection-less psychopathy
• There is counter-evidence


  Does not support Bowlby's theory
• Lewis' study


  • Partially replicated Bowlby's experiment on 44 thieves
  • Looked at 500 young people
  • Early prolonged maternal separation did not predict criminality or difficulty forming close relationships
• This


  Is a limitation of Bowlby's theory because it suggests others factors may have an affect
• Critical period


  More of a sensitive period
• Psychologist's case study of Czech twins


  • Isolated from the age of 18 months in a cupboard
  • Later looked after by loving adults
  • Appeared to recover fully
• This


  Shows that even severe cases of deprivation can have positive outcomes provided the child has good aftercare
• This


  Shows this period is sensitive not critical
• Animal studies


  • Have demonstrated maternal deprivation
• Most psychologists are critical of the maternal deprivation theory
• One line of research

  Supports the idea that maternal deprivation can have long term effects
• Study


  • Separating a baby rat from their mother for as little as a day could have a permanent effect on their social development
• There is always doubt as to whether animal studies can be generalised to humans
• Sources of evidence for maternal deprivation

  • Flawed
  • Goldfarb studied war orphans who were traumatised and often had poor aftercare
  • These factors may have caused developmental issues, rather than the separation itself
• This


  Means when Bowlby interviewed for affectionless psychopathy, knowing what he wanted to find, he could have been biased and not considered other factors