Bowlby's maternal deprivation

• Mother-love in infancy and childhood is important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health (Bowlby, 1963)
• Bowlby's maternal deprivation hypothesis focuses on the effects of early experiences and how they could interfere with the usual process of attachment formation
• Being separated from a mother in early childhood has serious consequences for emotional and intellectual development
• Separation- when the child is not in the presence of a primary caregiver
• Deprivation- Refers to the loss of emotional care that is normally provided by a primary caregiver
• Brief separations do not significantly harm a child's development, however extended separations can lead to deprivation and harmful consequences
• Privation refers to an attachment not forming at all
• Bowlby considered that there was a critical period for psychological development- the first 30 months. Infants should have a continuous, unbroken relationship
• If an infant was separated from their mother/caregiver, Bowlby believed they would suffer psychological damage
• Being deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period would lead to delayed intellect and abnormally low IQ
• Goldfarb (1947) demonstrated that children who remained in institution had a lower IQ as they received lower standards of emotional care
• Bowlby suggested that maternal deprivation can lead to affectionless psychopathy
• Affectionless psychopathy

  1. Less likely to feel guilt or shame
  2. Inability to experience guilt or strong emotions
  3. Prevents the development of normal relationships
  4. Associated with criminality
  5. Lack remorse
• Bowlby's 44 thieves study

  • examined the link between maternal deprivation and affectionless psychopathy
  • 44 criminal teenagers accused of stealing
  • 14/44 thieves were affectionless psychopaths
  • 12 experienced prolonged separation from mothers
  • 5 of the remaining 30 thieves experienced separation
  • control group: 2/44 experienced long separation, none were affectionless psychopaths
• Bowlby concluded from his 44 thieves study that prolonged separation/ deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy
• STRENGTHS

  • Real world application- has changed how children are cared for in hospitals. Parents are encouraged to stay overnight
• LIMITATIONS

  • distinction between deprivation and privation- Rutter (1981) pointed out that the severe long term damage Bowlby associated with deprivation is more likely to be a result of privation
  • Based on flawed evidence- Bowlby carried out the interviews himself, bias. Unreliable memory recall. War-orphans experience trauma outside of separation
  • Critical period may be the sensitive period- Koluchova (1965) reported Czech twins who had been isolated at 18 months until they were 7 as they were locked in a cupboard. Appeared to have recovered normally