Bowlbys maternal deprivation hypothesis The effects of privation

• • • Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis The effects of privation (institutionalisation, extreme cases) The extent to which privation effects can be reversed www. psychlotron. or Deprivation & privation

• Researchers distinguish between: • • • Deprivation – an attachment forms but is then discontinued Privation – no opportunity is given for attachments to form In practice it is difficult to distinguish between them completely www. psychlotron. or Deprivation & privation

• Based on Bowlby’s ideas: • • • Attachment is important for survival Prototypes for later relationships Predicts developmental difficulty if the attachment relationship goes wrong: • • General developmental problems Specific issues with social development www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis

“Prolonged deprivation of a young child of maternal care may have grave and farreaching effects on his character…similar in form…to deprivation of vitamins in infancy. ” Bowlby (1953) www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis

• Spitz (1945) • • Children in orphanages Signs of ‘anaclitic depression’ Apathy, withdrawal, helplessness, low appetite Survival rates of children raised in prison better than those raised in orphanages www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis

• Spitz & Wolf (1946) • • • 100 psychologically normal children in long -term hospital care Most showed signs of depression Recovered quickly if period of hospitalisation was less than 3 months www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis

• Bowlby (1946) • • Comparison of ‘delinquent’ (i. e. criminal) and ‘disturbed’ children 32% of delinquents had an ‘affectionless character’ Apparent inability to relate to others 86% of these had experienced maternal deprivation www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis

www. psychlotron. or Disruption to attachment process Inability to form relationships with others Lack of moral constraints on behaviour Delinquent or criminal behaviour

• Criticisms of Bowlby (1946): • • Retrospective data ‘Affectionless’ diagnosis made by Bowlby – possibility of bias Great variation in duration of separation from mother Overemphasised the fact of separation at the expense of the reasons for separation www. psychlotron. or Maternal deprivation hypothesis