Impact of maternal deprivation in the development
of adult relationships
Discuss the impact of maternal deprivation in early childhood on the development of
adult relationships including reference to studies of institutionalisation.
The hypothesis of maternal deprivation (MDH) was developed by Bowlby in result of his theory of
monotropy which believes that psychological development depends on attachment between an infant
and his mother. This hypothesis explains the consequences of the breaking of these attachments.
Bowlby’s thought that responsive, individualized and loving care is a required feature in allowing the
infants to develop a sense of security. This also provided the base for which social relationship with
others are developed.
The first relationship between caregivers and children is what mould future expectations for the
child’s future connections, and it also forms the base for the development of the kid’s relationships
with his/her peers.
Bowlby described that the disruption of attachment can happen in three ways:
Short-term separation, which is a brief and temporary separation from attachment figures.
Long-term deprivation, which involves long or permanent separation from attachment figures.
Privation, concerning children who have never formed an attachment bond.
Bowlby’s MDH suggests that continual disruption of the attachment between the child and the
primary caregiver in the critical period of time of 30 months, could result in long term cognitive,
social and emotional damage which he believed would then be irreversible.
This was supported by his 44 thieves’ study, which aimed to investigate the long-term effects of
maternal deprivation. According to MDH breaking the bond child-mother during the early stage of
life is likely to have negative effects on the child psychological, intellectual and social development,
which comprehended juvenile delinquency, emotional difficulties and antisocial behaviour.
Comparing 44 juvenile thieves with a control group of non-juveniles who experienced emotional
problems, he constated that a consistent percentage of the thieves’ group exhibited affectionless
psychopathy (inability to show affection or concern for others). Of them, 85% had experienced
maternal separation.
This study was conducted with clinical interviews, meaning that Bowlby was asking the subjects to
recall memories of separation which may not have been accurate.
Another limitation of this study is that Bowlby designed the experiment and was also the person who
conducted it, which could lead to bias (particularly since he was responsible to diagnose affectionless
psychopathy) since he knew which kids were from the juveniles and which were from the control
group. He may have been unconsciously influenced by his own expectations, undermining the validity
of the results.
of adult relationships
Discuss the impact of maternal deprivation in early childhood on the development of
adult relationships including reference to studies of institutionalisation.
The hypothesis of maternal deprivation (MDH) was developed by Bowlby in result of his theory of
monotropy which believes that psychological development depends on attachment between an infant
and his mother. This hypothesis explains the consequences of the breaking of these attachments.
Bowlby’s thought that responsive, individualized and loving care is a required feature in allowing the
infants to develop a sense of security. This also provided the base for which social relationship with
others are developed.
The first relationship between caregivers and children is what mould future expectations for the
child’s future connections, and it also forms the base for the development of the kid’s relationships
with his/her peers.
Bowlby described that the disruption of attachment can happen in three ways:
Short-term separation, which is a brief and temporary separation from attachment figures.
Long-term deprivation, which involves long or permanent separation from attachment figures.
Privation, concerning children who have never formed an attachment bond.
Bowlby’s MDH suggests that continual disruption of the attachment between the child and the
primary caregiver in the critical period of time of 30 months, could result in long term cognitive,
social and emotional damage which he believed would then be irreversible.
This was supported by his 44 thieves’ study, which aimed to investigate the long-term effects of
maternal deprivation. According to MDH breaking the bond child-mother during the early stage of
life is likely to have negative effects on the child psychological, intellectual and social development,
which comprehended juvenile delinquency, emotional difficulties and antisocial behaviour.
Comparing 44 juvenile thieves with a control group of non-juveniles who experienced emotional
problems, he constated that a consistent percentage of the thieves’ group exhibited affectionless
psychopathy (inability to show affection or concern for others). Of them, 85% had experienced
maternal separation.
This study was conducted with clinical interviews, meaning that Bowlby was asking the subjects to
recall memories of separation which may not have been accurate.
Another limitation of this study is that Bowlby designed the experiment and was also the person who
conducted it, which could lead to bias (particularly since he was responsible to diagnose affectionless
psychopathy) since he knew which kids were from the juveniles and which were from the control
group. He may have been unconsciously influenced by his own expectations, undermining the validity
of the results.
