Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation
Key Terms
Maternal deprivation- The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation
between a child and his/ her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that
continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological
development, and that prolonged separation from this adult causes serious
damage to emotional and intellectual development.
Theory of Maternal Deprivation
Separation vs deprivation
- Separation means the held not being in the presence of the primary
attachment figure.
- Separation only becomes a problem for development if the child is
deprived.
- Brief separations, especially where the child is with a substitute caregiver,
are not significant for development.
Critical period
- If the child is separated in the first 30 months from their mother, and is
deprived of her emotional care, then psychological damage was
inevitable.
Effects on development
- Intellectual development – Bowlby believed that if children were deprived
of maternal care for too long during the critical period, they would suffer
delayed intellectual development.
→ This has been shown in studies of adoption.
→ Goldfarb found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions
as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher
standard of emotional care.
- Emotional development – Bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as
the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others,
→ This would prevent the person developing normal relationships
associated with criminality.
Key Terms
Maternal deprivation- The emotional and intellectual consequences of separation
between a child and his/ her mother or mother substitute. Bowlby proposed that
continuous care from a mother is essential for normal psychological
development, and that prolonged separation from this adult causes serious
damage to emotional and intellectual development.
Theory of Maternal Deprivation
Separation vs deprivation
- Separation means the held not being in the presence of the primary
attachment figure.
- Separation only becomes a problem for development if the child is
deprived.
- Brief separations, especially where the child is with a substitute caregiver,
are not significant for development.
Critical period
- If the child is separated in the first 30 months from their mother, and is
deprived of her emotional care, then psychological damage was
inevitable.
Effects on development
- Intellectual development – Bowlby believed that if children were deprived
of maternal care for too long during the critical period, they would suffer
delayed intellectual development.
→ This has been shown in studies of adoption.
→ Goldfarb found lower IQ in children who had remained in institutions
as opposed to those who were fostered and thus had a higher
standard of emotional care.
- Emotional development – Bowlby identified affectionless psychopathy as
the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion for others,
→ This would prevent the person developing normal relationships
associated with criminality.
