Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation
Theory of maternal deprivation
John Bowlby proposed a theory of attachment but prior to this he developed the theory of
maternal deprivation (1951). This earlier theory focused on the idea that the continual
presence of nurture from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal
psychological development of babies and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually.
Bowlby famously said that ‘mother-love in infancy and childhood is as important for mental
health as are vitamins and protein for physical health’ (Bowlby 1953). Being separated from
a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal deprivation).
Separation versus deprivation
There is an important distinction to be made between separation and deprivation.
Separation simply means the child not being in the presence of the primary attachment
figure. This only becomes an issue for development if the child is deprived, i.e., they lose an
element of her care. Brief separations, particularly where the child is with a substitute
caregiver, are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to
deprivation, by which definition causes harm.
The critical period
Bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for psychological development. If a
child is separated from their mother in the absence of suitable substitute care and so
deprived of her emotional care for an extended period during this critical period, then
(Bowlby believed) psychological damage was inevitable.
Effects on development
Intellectual development. One way in which maternal deprivation affects children’s
development is their intellectual development. Bowlby believed that if children were
deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period, they would suffer
mental retardation, characterised by abnormally low IQ. This has been demonstrated
in studies of adoption. For example, Goldfarb (1947) 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. A second major way in which being deprived of a mother
figure’s emotional care affects children is in their emotional development. Bowlby
identified affectionless psychopathy as the inability to experience guilt or strong
emotion for others. This prevents the person developing normal relationships and is
associated with criminality. Affectionless psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings
of victims and so lack of remorse for their actions.
Theory of maternal deprivation
John Bowlby proposed a theory of attachment but prior to this he developed the theory of
maternal deprivation (1951). This earlier theory focused on the idea that the continual
presence of nurture from a mother or mother-substitute is essential for normal
psychological development of babies and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually.
Bowlby famously said that ‘mother-love in infancy and childhood is as important for mental
health as are vitamins and protein for physical health’ (Bowlby 1953). Being separated from
a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal deprivation).
Separation versus deprivation
There is an important distinction to be made between separation and deprivation.
Separation simply means the child not being in the presence of the primary attachment
figure. This only becomes an issue for development if the child is deprived, i.e., they lose an
element of her care. Brief separations, particularly where the child is with a substitute
caregiver, are not significant for development but extended separations can lead to
deprivation, by which definition causes harm.
The critical period
Bowlby saw the first 30 months of life as a critical period for psychological development. If a
child is separated from their mother in the absence of suitable substitute care and so
deprived of her emotional care for an extended period during this critical period, then
(Bowlby believed) psychological damage was inevitable.
Effects on development
Intellectual development. One way in which maternal deprivation affects children’s
development is their intellectual development. Bowlby believed that if children were
deprived of maternal care for too long during the critical period, they would suffer
mental retardation, characterised by abnormally low IQ. This has been demonstrated
in studies of adoption. For example, Goldfarb (1947) 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. A second major way in which being deprived of a mother
figure’s emotional care affects children is in their emotional development. Bowlby
identified affectionless psychopathy as the inability to experience guilt or strong
emotion for others. This prevents the person developing normal relationships and is
associated with criminality. Affectionless psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings
of victims and so lack of remorse for their actions.
