Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis

• This theory focused on the idea that the continual presence of care from a mother or mother- substitute is essential for normal psychological development, both emotionally and intellectually
• Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation explains what happens if these attachments are broken (deprivation)
• He suggests that disruption of these bonds within the critical period (approximately first 2 years) can have serious consequences
• All infants need a close relationship with their mother or mother substitute to develop ‘normally’
• Affectionless psychopathy- characterised by the lack of concern for others, inability to feel remorse and delinquency behavioural problems in adolescence
• Maternal deprivation- refers to the loss/separation between a child and their mother or substitute during early childhood and cancan be very serious and lead to long term psychological and relationship issues later in life