3.9 Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

3.9 Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

1. Suggests that continual disruption of attachment between infant and primary caregiver could result in long term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties for the infant, these effects were believed to be permanent.

2. Critical Period

   • Argued that the first 2.5 years of life were crucial. If child was separated from their primary attachment figure for an extended period of time, the care damage was irreversible.

3. Effects of maternal deprivation

   • ADDIDDAS: Aggression, Delinquency, Dwarfism, Intellectual retardation, Depression, Dependency, Affectionless psychopathy, Social maladjustment.
   • Affectionless Psychopathy - inability to show affection or concern for others, lack of shame or sense of responsibility.

4. 44 Thieves study

   • Aim: to investigate the long term effects of maternal deprivation
   • Procedure: Made 2 groups, 1 of children accused of theft and a second control group. Children and parents were interviewed and tested by Bowlby focusing on their early life experiences.
   • Findings: 14/44 from theft group were affectionless psychopaths, 12/14 had experienced prolonged separation of more than 6 months from their mothers. From control 2 had experienced prolonged separations but none were found with affectionless psychopathy.

5. Evaluation

   • Strengths:
     • Support from animal research. Harlow's research with monkeys showed that the monkeys without maternal care had turned to violence in their later years and had problems with social interactions.
     • Real life application. Orphanages now have to take account of emotional needs. In maternity units mothers are allowed to spend more time with their babies.
   • Weaknesses:
     • Doesnt distinguish between deprivation and privation. Rutter stresses that quality of attachment bond is the most important factor.
     • Flawed evidence and bias. Bowlby himself carried out the interviews so was open to bias.