Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. (16 marks)
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Course
Attachment
Institution
AQA
I finished my psychology A-level last year with an A*. I have compiled a list of improvised essays I done as mocks and each of these essays fall into band 4 (13-16 marks)
Discuss Bowlby’s theory of
maternal deprivation. (16 marks)
Maternal deprivation, or the loss of emotional care from a mother figure for an extended
period of time, can have major long-term implications. Bowlby believed that continued
maternal deprivation would harm a child's emotional development, potentially leading to
mental health disorders or maladjustment. Although Bowlby anticipated that the effects
of maternal deprivation would be most severe during the critical period, he also
recognised that there was a danger of negative consequences until the child was three
years old. He also admitted that if they were able to give enough and attentive surrogate
emotional care, the presence of a mother-substitute could prevent long-term
repercussions. Bowlby suggested that maternal deprivation could cause delayed
intellectual development, resulting in a low IQ. Bowlby also contended that deprivation
could result in affectionless psychopathy, which is characterised by those who lack
shame or guilt. This causes additional issues, such as trouble developing relationships
and an increased likelihood of criminal tendencies.
Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation was supported by research. He assessed 88
children aged 5 to 16 who were referred to his counselling clinic. 44 of these kids were
crooks. Bowlby labelled 14 of these robbers as affectionless psychopaths. He
subsequently observed that 86% of the affectionless psychopaths had early and
sustained attachment separations, compared to 17% of the "other thieves" and 4% of
the control group. These findings point to an association between early continuing
separation from the primary caregiver and later social maladjustment. The maternal
deprivation hypothesis appears to result in affectionless psychopathy and an increased
probability of antisocial behaviour.
However, there is data that contradicts Bowlby's claims about maternal deprivation.
Lewis (1944) duplicated the juvenile thief study with a larger sample of children but
found no evidence that early deprivation, as produced by prolonged separation from the
primary caregiver, indicated a higher risk of criminal behaviour in adolescents. This calls
Bowlby's theory into question because it implies that other factors may be at work,
mediating the effects of maternal deprivation.
Discuss Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation. (16 marks) 1
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