Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation
Attachment = an important and long lasting/permanent bond/relationship between an infant and
caregiver
Bond disruption = when the attachment bond is under pressure e.g. through repeated and/or
prolonged separation(s)
Deprivation (maternal) = when an infant/child is deprived of the emotional support they had from
the caregiver (mother). Bond = broken
Privation = bond fails to form in the first place e.g. through institutionalisation (Tizard) or isolation
(Genie – Curtis)
John Bowlby is known for his monotropic theory of attachment. However, earlier in his
career he also proposed the theory of maternal deprivation.
This earlier theory focused on the idea that the continual presence of care from a mother
or mother-substitute is essential for the normal psychological development of babies
and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually.
Bowlby (1953) famously said that ‘mother-love in infancy and early childhood is as
important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health.’ Being
separated from a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal
deprivation).
Separation vs 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 a problem if the child becomes deprived of emotional care
(which can happen even if a mother is present and, say, depressed). Brief separations,
particularly where the child is with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care,
are not significant for development, but extended separations can lead to deprivation,
which by definition causes harm.
The critical period
Bowlby saw the first two-and-a-half years 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 their emotional care for an extended duration during this critical
, period, then (Bowlby believed), psychological damage was inevitable. He also believed
there was a continuing risk up to the age of five.
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 experience delayed intellectual
development, 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 towards others. This prevents a
person developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality. Affectionless
psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their
actions.
Bowlby’s research
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory arose from his work as a psychiatrist in a child
guidance clinic in London in the 1930s and 40s. During this time, Bowlby provided
support and therapeutic help to many troubled children and teenagers. In 1944, he
published a piece of research based on case notes from his work called ‘Forty-Four
Juvenile Thieves: Their Characters and Home Lives’ (Bowlby, 1944). Many of the
children referred to the child guidance clinic had a history of persistent offending and
theft. Bowlby identified a subgroup who appeared to have little guilt, shame or remorse
(lack of empathy) for their actions. He referred to this quality as ‘affectionless
psychopathy’.
Bowlby’s (1944) 44 thieves study examined the link between affectionless
psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
Attachment = an important and long lasting/permanent bond/relationship between an infant and
caregiver
Bond disruption = when the attachment bond is under pressure e.g. through repeated and/or
prolonged separation(s)
Deprivation (maternal) = when an infant/child is deprived of the emotional support they had from
the caregiver (mother). Bond = broken
Privation = bond fails to form in the first place e.g. through institutionalisation (Tizard) or isolation
(Genie – Curtis)
John Bowlby is known for his monotropic theory of attachment. However, earlier in his
career he also proposed the theory of maternal deprivation.
This earlier theory focused on the idea that the continual presence of care from a mother
or mother-substitute is essential for the normal psychological development of babies
and toddlers, both emotionally and intellectually.
Bowlby (1953) famously said that ‘mother-love in infancy and early childhood is as
important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health.’ Being
separated from a mother in early childhood has serious consequences (maternal
deprivation).
Separation vs 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 a problem if the child becomes deprived of emotional care
(which can happen even if a mother is present and, say, depressed). Brief separations,
particularly where the child is with a substitute caregiver who can provide emotional care,
are not significant for development, but extended separations can lead to deprivation,
which by definition causes harm.
The critical period
Bowlby saw the first two-and-a-half years 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 their emotional care for an extended duration during this critical
, period, then (Bowlby believed), psychological damage was inevitable. He also believed
there was a continuing risk up to the age of five.
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 experience delayed intellectual
development, 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 towards others. This prevents a
person developing normal relationships and is associated with criminality. Affectionless
psychopaths cannot appreciate the feelings of victims and so lack remorse for their
actions.
Bowlby’s research
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory arose from his work as a psychiatrist in a child
guidance clinic in London in the 1930s and 40s. During this time, Bowlby provided
support and therapeutic help to many troubled children and teenagers. In 1944, he
published a piece of research based on case notes from his work called ‘Forty-Four
Juvenile Thieves: Their Characters and Home Lives’ (Bowlby, 1944). Many of the
children referred to the child guidance clinic had a history of persistent offending and
theft. Bowlby identified a subgroup who appeared to have little guilt, shame or remorse
(lack of empathy) for their actions. He referred to this quality as ‘affectionless
psychopathy’.
Bowlby’s (1944) 44 thieves study examined the link between affectionless
psychopathy and maternal deprivation.
