Privation or Deprivation?

Definitions Deprivation; Occurs when the attachment bond is formed but is broken later, either in the short or long term. Deprivation occurs every time a child is separated from his or her mother or main care giver. E.g. when a child goes to school, deprivation is experienced. Bowlby stated that deprivation could have severe long term consequences.

Short term?

Long term?

Definitions. Privation; When a child does not form any attachment with a significant person. Feral children are seen as privated. Privation is thought to have devastating consequences for the child which may never be resolved. Genie was seen as a privated child.

Child A is 5 years old. He has come to his headteacher's attention because he has developed behavioural problems. These seem to be linked to his father being sent to prison three months earlier.

Child B's mother died in childbirth. Tragically her father committed suicide just two weeks later. Since then she has been in foster care, having a succession of placements.

Child C is 12 months old. He has been taken from his mother who is an alcoholic and gives him no affection or attention.

Child D is two. Her mother has recently had a baby and has been admitted into hospital with post-partum depression. She has been there for a month.

Child E is 3. His parents left him in the care of his 15 year-old auntie to go on holiday a week ago.

Short term effects of deprivation Protest – The initial stage of separation can last several hours or days and the child is seen to cry profusely, throw themselves around and seek the mother figure. They actively refuse comfort from other adults or cling. Despair – No longer anticipates return of mother and becomes increasingly hopeless. The child becomes withdrawn, apathetic and demonstrates mourning. They self sooth and reject comfort from others. May rock, thumb suck or cuddle inanimate objects. Detachment – they regain an interest in the environment and accept comfort. However, when mother returns they do not show normal reunion behaviour. They seem to reject the mother.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yNb87aO5z8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14Q-_Bxc_U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdOe10vrs4

Long term effects

Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis According to this hypothesis 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 also claimed that many of these negative effects are permanent and irreversible.

Bowlby (1944) Suggested that maternal deprivation can significantly influence future social and emotional development. More risk of delinquency, lower intelligence and a lack emotional development (affectionless psychopathy) which may still be observable several years later.

How can we reduce the effects of deprivation? 1. Modifying Hospital procedures. 2. Replacement attachment figure 3. Prepare children adequately prior to parental separation. 4. Take time before forming a new family. 5. Keep routine the same. 6. Allow to see parent 7. Additional care and stimulation (Skodak and Skeels, 1945)

The Negative effects of Deprivation can be reduced Primary caregivers should try to avoid separation if possible. Robertson and Spitz suggested that reducing the length of the separation can be helpful.

Use of a replacement attachment figure James and Joyce Robertson worked alongside Anna Freud (Psychodynamic background) Filmed several children whilst their mothers were in hospital Joyce Robertson acted as a replacement attachment figure to 4 different children.

Conclusions of Robertson's The child’s ability to cope depended upon several factors Transformed hospital practice in the 1960’s Parents now actively encouraged to help look after children whilst they stay in hospital Syndrome of Distress; Protest Despair Detachment

Additional care and stimulation Some studies have shown in orphanages that if there is someone there to provide support (Skodak and Skeels, 1945) or stimulation there could be improvements. Improvements in IQ were found if there was more stimulation or a lower child to carer ratio. Success also depends on the age of the child and length of deprivation.

Coping with Separation Through Divorce Ensure an attachment figure is available Keep to the routine Talking to older children, the UNCRC explains that a child has the right to participate in decisions about them and the right to be protected. Fight or flight response can be triggered, children’s survival instinct that prepares the child for action if needed. Evolutionary basis proposed by Bowlby; times of fear and anxiety, go to attachment figure to provide comfort. United Nations Convention on the rights of the child

Evidence to suggest maternal deprivation may not have such severe consequences. Schaffer and Emerson (1964): found babies could form multiple attachments so another close attachment with a family member may help prevent deprivation and its effects. Skeels (1949) : Compared IQ’s of girls who stayed in an orphanage and those who went to a school for the ‘mentally retarded’. Found that it was mental stimulation that had helped the school girls so that actually it wasn’t the lack of attachment of the orphaned children that cause the difference in IQ but lack of mental stimulation. Rutter (1970):studied delinquent teenage boys and did not find a link between early separation and delinquency. He found the type of relationship with parents before the separation was important and the stress in the home was more of a factor in later delinquency than the separation itself. There will be other factors that may affect consequences of dep.

Name   Method Findings Evaluation How to reduce effects of deprivation Goldfarb (1955) Spitz (1946) Robertson & Bowlby (1952) Kirkby & Whelan (1996) Richards (1995) Cockett & Tripp (1994) Bowlby’s (1946) juvenile thieves Rutter (1981) Olsavsky et al (2013) Pollak (2010) Harlow

Homework Q 19 (scenario) (6)

Homework Research. Read the 44 Thieves study in detail. Makes notes using the following headings. Aim, Procedure, Results, Conclusion. Make revision cards. Know this study very well for next lesson.

Apply your knowledge Looking at the problem page and using your knowledge from this lesson. Reply to the people with problems using evidence.