Maternal deprivation

Start with the hypothesis

This page is a section of Attachment in Psychology. A useful starting point is the mind map Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis. It introduces Bowlby's view of the importance of attachment to a mother figure and what can happen when that attachment is broken or absent.

Follow it with the note Attachment, which describes the idea of a continuous relationship between a child and a mother or maternal figure. The flowchart Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation also sets out terms including maternal care and the critical period. Read these resources alongside one another to see how each presents the theory.

Explore the research

The mind map on classic evidence by Bowlby looks at the methodology of the juvenile thieves study. It describes a series of case studies with a control group and notes that the study was not an experiment. A flashcard deck on the research covers methodology, procedures and conclusions.

After reading the map, use the flashcards to recall the focus and methods of the study. Then return to the map to check any details you want to look at again. This gives you a way to move between an overview and shorter prompts.

Connect the resources

The mind map Disruption To Attachment introduces situations in which an attachment can be broken temporarily or permanently. Compare it with the hypothesis resources to see how the topic connects with Attachment in Psychology. The Maternal Deprivation flashcards bring together maternal care, the critical period, the juvenile thieves study and evaluation.

Once you have explored a map and a flashcard deck, try a maternal deprivation quiz. Use the questions to identify points to revisit, then return to the relevant resource. Choose a map to begin your study.