Separation, Deprivation and Privation.

What we will cover; - What are the effects of a loss of lack of attachment upon a child’s development? -Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

What is Separation and Deprivation?

Physical disruption of the PC and child bond. If suitable replacement is available then it will

not need to have adverse consequences.

Loss of emotional care that is

provided by the PC.

44 Thieves (Bowlby 1946) • To study teenage criminals with affectionless

psychopathy (a lack of normal affection, shame or sense of responsibility) to see if they are more likely to have had an early separation.

• Bowlby believed there would be a relationship, based on the belief that prolonged separation from the PC would have a negative impact on development.

86%

The Robertson’s Case Studies • James and Joyce Robertson conducted

observational studies of children who were between about 17 months and 3 years, in the 1960’s.

• The children went into hospital or were placed in residential nurseries, separating them from their caregivers for periods from a few days up to several weeks.

• The Robertson's were convinced that separating babies from their mothers was harmful.

Complete the Case Notes sheet about John using P13

Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis • “Mother love in infancy and

childhood is as important for mental health as are vitamins and proteins for physical health.” (Bowlby, 1953.)

• Breaking the maternal bond with the child during the early years (critical period) of its life is likely to have serious effects on its intellectual, social and emotional development.

• Bowlby claimed that many of these negative effects are permanent and irreversible.

What is Privation?

• Michael Rutter (1981) argued that if a child fails to develop an attachment this is privation, whereas deprivation refers to the loss of or damage to an attachment.

• He believed that the lack of attachment would have more serious consequences that the loss of attachment.

• Children who have suffered privation do not show distress when separated from a familiar figure, which indicates a lack of attachment.

• Privation may happen in conditions of abuse, neglect or inadequate parental care.

Evaluation • Effects of privation are more reversible than

Bowlby believed• The longer the period of privation the harder

to reverse the effects• Loving relationships and high quality care are

necessary to reverse privation effects• Research studies in this area suffer from

many problems including:• Difficulty generalising from single cases or

small samples• Difficulty separating effects of privation,

abuse, malnutrition, other trauma or congenital abnormality