Disruption of Attachment
MDH
- Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (MDH) suggests that
attachment is essential for healthy social and emotional
development.
- It therefore follows that a disruption of attachment might have a
negative effect on social and emotional development.
- Such disruption may occur when an infant is separated from his or
her attachment figure.
- The MDH was proposed by Bowlby around 20 years before his
attachment theory.
- The hypothesis stated the belief that if an infant was unable to
develop a ‘warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with its
mother’ (or permanent mother substitute) (Bowlby, 1953) then the
child would have difficulty in forming relationships with other people
and would be at risk from developing behavioural disorders.
There are 3 important stages to note:
Continuity
- The hypothesis focuses on the importance of continuous
relationship between a child and mother.
- Relationships that are discontinuous (i.e. where there are
separations) become unstable and less predictable. This disrupts the
development of the relationship.
Continuity before and beyond Critical Period:
- The development must occur during the critical period.
- If a child experiences too many separations before the age of 2 ½
years, then it would be likely to become emotionally disturbed.
- He also believed that there was a continuing threat of disturbances
up to 5 years, but after that the child would be able to cope with
separation better.
Mother or Not the Mother?
- Bowlby did not suggest that the relationship had to be with the
child’s mother.
- The term ‘maternal’ was used to describe mothering from a
mother ‘or any mother substitute’.
- He did believe that the child should form a relationship with one
primary caregiver (Monotropy).
- This is most likely to be the mother, although it doesn’t have to be.
However…
- There was no mention of evolutionary principles, social releasers
and adapters etc in his hypothesis.
MDH
- Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis (MDH) suggests that
attachment is essential for healthy social and emotional
development.
- It therefore follows that a disruption of attachment might have a
negative effect on social and emotional development.
- Such disruption may occur when an infant is separated from his or
her attachment figure.
- The MDH was proposed by Bowlby around 20 years before his
attachment theory.
- The hypothesis stated the belief that if an infant was unable to
develop a ‘warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with its
mother’ (or permanent mother substitute) (Bowlby, 1953) then the
child would have difficulty in forming relationships with other people
and would be at risk from developing behavioural disorders.
There are 3 important stages to note:
Continuity
- The hypothesis focuses on the importance of continuous
relationship between a child and mother.
- Relationships that are discontinuous (i.e. where there are
separations) become unstable and less predictable. This disrupts the
development of the relationship.
Continuity before and beyond Critical Period:
- The development must occur during the critical period.
- If a child experiences too many separations before the age of 2 ½
years, then it would be likely to become emotionally disturbed.
- He also believed that there was a continuing threat of disturbances
up to 5 years, but after that the child would be able to cope with
separation better.
Mother or Not the Mother?
- Bowlby did not suggest that the relationship had to be with the
child’s mother.
- The term ‘maternal’ was used to describe mothering from a
mother ‘or any mother substitute’.
- He did believe that the child should form a relationship with one
primary caregiver (Monotropy).
- This is most likely to be the mother, although it doesn’t have to be.
However…
- There was no mention of evolutionary principles, social releasers
and adapters etc in his hypothesis.
