Bowlby’s Theory of Maternal Deprivation

This section explains Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation as part of the Attachment module of Psychology. John Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation emphasises the potential negative consequences of a prolonged separation between a child and their primary attachment figure during the early years of life.

Key Concepts of Maternal Deprivation

Critical Period:

Bowlby argued that the first 30 months of life constitute a critical period for emotional and psychological development.

If a child is separated from their mother (or primary attachment figure) for an extended period during this critical period, and if this separation is without adequate substitute emotional care, it could result in maternal deprivation.

Distinction Between Separation and Deprivation:

Separation: Temporary absence of the attachment figure. If emotional care continues, it may not necessarily lead to negative outcomes.

Deprivation: Prolonged or repeated separations that disrupt the attachment bond and result in a lack of emotional care.

Consequences of Maternal Deprivation:

Emotional Disturbance: Bowlby linked maternal deprivation to emotional problems such as affectionless psychopathy, a condition characterised by a lack of empathy, guilt, and an inability to form meaningful relationships.

Intellectual Impairment: Prolonged deprivation could result in lower IQ and cognitive development delays.

Social and Emotional Development Issues: Difficulty forming relationships, increased aggression, or social maladjustment.

Bowlby’s 44 Thieves Study (1944)

Aim: To investigate the long-term effects of maternal deprivation.

Procedure:

Bowlby studied 88 children attending a child guidance clinic.

44 were juvenile thieves.

44 were a control group with emotional problems but no history of theft.

Bowlby interviewed the children and their families to assess for signs of affectionless psychopathy and early separation experiences.

Findings:

14 out of 44 thieves were identified as affectionless psychopaths.

12 of these 14 had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers during the first 2 years of life.

Only 5 out of the remaining 30 thieves experienced similar separations.

In the control group, only 2 had experienced prolonged separation.

Conclusion:

Bowlby concluded that prolonged early separation is associated with affectionless psychopathy and delinquency.

Evaluation:

Strengths:

Bowlby’s research highlighted the importance of continuous emotional care for healthy psychological development.

Influenced child-rearing practices and hospital care, leading to more family-friendly policies.

Criticisms:

Correlation, Not Causation: The study shows a link but cannot definitively prove that separation causes delinquency or affectionless psychopathy.

Retrospective Data: Relied on participants’ recollections of early experiences, which may be inaccurate or biased.

Oversimplification: Later research suggests that the effects of separation depend on the quality of substitute care, not just the separation itself. Rutter distinguished between privation (failure to form an attachment) and deprivation (loss of an attachment), suggesting Bowlby’s theory may oversimplify complex issues.

Romanian Orphan Studies: Effects of Institutionalisation

Studies of Romanian orphans provide crucial insights into the effects of institutionalisation—a situation where children are raised in institutions such as orphanages, often with minimal emotional and social care.

Key Study: Rutter et al. (2011)

Aim: To investigate the long-term effects of institutionalisation and the extent to which good care could mitigate these effects.

Procedure:

165 Romanian orphans adopted in the UK were studied.

111 were adopted before the age of 2 years.

54 were adopted between 2 and 4 years.

A control group of 52 British children adopted at the same time was also studied.

The children were assessed at ages 4, 6, 11, and 15 to measure physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

Findings:

Intellectual Development:

At the time of adoption, Romanian orphans showed signs of severe cognitive impairment, with the average IQ of those adopted before 6 months being 102, compared to 86 for those adopted between 6 months and 2 years, and 77 for those adopted after 2 years.

By age 11, many of those adopted before 6 months had caught up with the control group in terms of cognitive development.

Attachment:

• Children adopted after 6 months displayed signs of disinhibited attachment, characterised by:
• Attention-seeking behaviour.
• Indiscriminate friendliness towards strangers.
• Difficulty forming close relationships.
• Those adopted before 6 months rarely displayed this attachment style.

Emotional and Social Development:

Prolonged institutionalisation resulted in significant emotional and social difficulties, particularly in those adopted later.

However, earlier adoption and high-quality care significantly reduced these effects.

Conclusion:

Institutionalisation can lead to severe long-term effects on development, particularly in emotional attachment and intellectual functioning.

However, if adoption occurs before the age of 6 months, many negative outcomes can be mitigated, suggesting a sensitive period for attachment.

Key Study: Zeanah et al. (2005) - Bucharest Early Intervention Project

Aim: To compare attachment in institutionalised children with those in foster care.

Procedure:

Sample of 95 children aged 12-31 months who had spent most of their lives in institutional care.

Compared to a control group of children who had never been institutionalised.

The attachment type was measured using the Strange Situation.

Findings:

• Only 19% of the institutionalised group were securely attached, compared to 74% in the control group.
• 65% of the institutionalised children showed signs of disorganised attachment.
• 44% displayed disinhibited attachment, a pattern rare in the control group.

Conclusion:

Institutionalisation can severely disrupt the development of normal attachment patterns.

Disinhibited attachment, often seen in institutionalised children, suggests an adaptation to a lack of consistent caregiving.

Effects of Institutionalisation

Disinhibited Attachment:

• Children do not show preference for a specific attachment figure.
• They may seek comfort and attention from strangers indiscriminately.
• This attachment style is thought to be an adaptation to the lack of consistent caregiving.

Intellectual Impairment:

Institutionalised children often show cognitive delays due to the lack of stimulation and emotional care.

The degree of impairment is related to the age at which they leave the institution.

Emotional and Social Problems:

Difficulties in forming close, trusting relationships.

Problems with emotional regulation and increased likelihood of behavioural issues.

Evaluation:

Strengths:

The studies provide valuable insights into the effects of early experiences on development and the importance of sensitive caregiving.

Findings have led to significant changes in policies and practices concerning child care in institutions, such as promoting adoption and fostering over institutional care.

Criticisms:

Generalisability: Conditions in Romanian orphanages were exceptionally poor, so findings may not generalise to all institutional settings.

Ethical Issues: The research, while valuable, raises ethical concerns about studying children in such deprived conditions.

Confounding Variables: The Romanian orphans may have experienced additional trauma, such as malnutrition, which could contribute to their developmental outcomes.

Conclusion

Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation highlights the importance of continuous emotional care in early development, while studies of Romanian orphans demonstrate the severe consequences of institutionalisation. Both bodies of research underscore the critical role of early relationships in shaping long-term emotional, social, and cognitive development.