Attachment (Paper 1) - 16 Marker
I received full marks (16/16) on this question in my mock paper,
which includes the hooks taken from the scenario (highlighted
below), my plan for the answer as well as A01, A02 and A03.
Ryan is a 14-year-old boy who spent the first five years of his life in care.
Ryan has had a difficult relationship with his adoptive parents and has
few friends. His recent school report described him as achieving below
average in most subjects. Ryan had also recently been in trouble with
the police for antisocial behaviour.
Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Refer to Ryan in your
answer.
PLAN:
- ‘first five years of his life in care’ inability to form relationships – links
to delinquency
- ‘difficult relationship’ prolonged separation
- Bowlby’s maternal deprivation 44 thieves study – research support –
link to Ryan
ANSWER:
A01:
Bowlby’s theory on maternal deprivation takes the critical period and the
monotropy theory and combines them to form the maternal deprivation
hypothesis. The hypothesis believes, ‘if an infant fails to develop a warm,
intimate relationship – the child will face difficulty in the future’. Bowlby
believes the development of a consistent relationship must be in the
critical period and that lack of maternal care, can lead to a negative
outcome. The consequences of maternal deprivation are as outlined:
delinquency, inability to form attachments in the future, affectionless
psychopathy, and difficulties in cognitive development. As Ryan has
spent the first five years of his life in care, he has experienced a
prolonged separation from his mother. Also because of this and the lack
I received full marks (16/16) on this question in my mock paper,
which includes the hooks taken from the scenario (highlighted
below), my plan for the answer as well as A01, A02 and A03.
Ryan is a 14-year-old boy who spent the first five years of his life in care.
Ryan has had a difficult relationship with his adoptive parents and has
few friends. His recent school report described him as achieving below
average in most subjects. Ryan had also recently been in trouble with
the police for antisocial behaviour.
Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. Refer to Ryan in your
answer.
PLAN:
- ‘first five years of his life in care’ inability to form relationships – links
to delinquency
- ‘difficult relationship’ prolonged separation
- Bowlby’s maternal deprivation 44 thieves study – research support –
link to Ryan
ANSWER:
A01:
Bowlby’s theory on maternal deprivation takes the critical period and the
monotropy theory and combines them to form the maternal deprivation
hypothesis. The hypothesis believes, ‘if an infant fails to develop a warm,
intimate relationship – the child will face difficulty in the future’. Bowlby
believes the development of a consistent relationship must be in the
critical period and that lack of maternal care, can lead to a negative
outcome. The consequences of maternal deprivation are as outlined:
delinquency, inability to form attachments in the future, affectionless
psychopathy, and difficulties in cognitive development. As Ryan has
spent the first five years of his life in care, he has experienced a
prolonged separation from his mother. Also because of this and the lack
