A01
Maternal deprivation - 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.
Separation versus deprivation
Separation means the child is not being in the presence of primary attachment figure. This
only becomes a problem if the child becomes deprived of emotional care. Brief separation,
particularly where the child is with a substitute care giver who can provide emotional care,
are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to deprivation, which
by definition causes harm.
Theory of maternal deprivation (Bolwby 1951)
Continued emotional care from a mother or mother substitute is essential for normal
emotional and intellectual development.
Separation may lead to maternal deprivation. Bowlby believed that mother love in infancy is
“as important for mental health as are vitamins and protiens for physical health”.
Separation is different from deprivation.
Separation means the child not being physically in the presence of the primary attachment
figure.
Deprivation means losing emotional care as a result of separation.
Deprivation can be avoided if alternative emotional care is offered, thus separation doesn’t
always cause deprivation.
The critical period
Critical period of 2 and a half years. If a child is separated from their mother (without the
substitute emotional care) for an extended time during the first 2 and half years, then
psychological damage is inevitable. There is a continuing risk up to the age of 5.
Effects of development
Intellectual development: lower IQ. If a child is deprived of maternal care for too long during
the critical period this may lead to mental retardation. Goldfarb (1947) found lower IQs in
children from institutions compared to fostered children.
Emotional development: affectionless psychopathy. Lack of emotional care may also lead to
affectionless psychopathy - the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards
others. This prevents a person developing normal relationships and is associated with
criminality.
Maternal deprivation - 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.
Separation versus deprivation
Separation means the child is not being in the presence of primary attachment figure. This
only becomes a problem if the child becomes deprived of emotional care. Brief separation,
particularly where the child is with a substitute care giver who can provide emotional care,
are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to deprivation, which
by definition causes harm.
Theory of maternal deprivation (Bolwby 1951)
Continued emotional care from a mother or mother substitute is essential for normal
emotional and intellectual development.
Separation may lead to maternal deprivation. Bowlby believed that mother love in infancy is
“as important for mental health as are vitamins and protiens for physical health”.
Separation is different from deprivation.
Separation means the child not being physically in the presence of the primary attachment
figure.
Deprivation means losing emotional care as a result of separation.
Deprivation can be avoided if alternative emotional care is offered, thus separation doesn’t
always cause deprivation.
The critical period
Critical period of 2 and a half years. If a child is separated from their mother (without the
substitute emotional care) for an extended time during the first 2 and half years, then
psychological damage is inevitable. There is a continuing risk up to the age of 5.
Effects of development
Intellectual development: lower IQ. If a child is deprived of maternal care for too long during
the critical period this may lead to mental retardation. Goldfarb (1947) found lower IQs in
children from institutions compared to fostered children.
Emotional development: affectionless psychopathy. Lack of emotional care may also lead to
affectionless psychopathy - the inability to experience guilt or strong emotion towards
others. This prevents a person developing normal relationships and is associated with
criminality.
