Bowlby: Attachment and Maternal Deprivation

In the 1930s, John Bowlby observed that many emotionally disturbed children had been separated from their mothers. He developed attachment theory, suggesting that children have an innate need to bond with a caregiver. Influenced by ethology, particularly Konrad Lorenz's geese study, Bowlby proposed that attachment is biologically programmed. He identified a critical period for forming attachments and introduced the continuity hypothesis, linking early attachment experiences to future relationships. His controversial maternal deprivation theory suggested that breaking the attachment bond could lead to mental health issues, as illustrated by his study of 44 juvenile thieves. Despite criticisms, Bowlby's work significantly influenced child development perspectives.

Who was the psychiatrist that changed the way psychologists thought about child development in the 1930s?

• John Bowlby

• Jean Piaget

• Erik Erikson

• Sigmund Freud

What is the term used to describe the rapid learning of recognition in geese, as observed by Konrad Lorenz?

• Conditioning

• Imprinting

• Attachment

• Bonding

According to Bowlby, during which age range is it critical for a child to receive continuous care from their main attachment figure?

• 5 years to 10 years

• 2 years to 5 years

• 6 months to 2 years

• Birth to 6 months

What hypothesis did Bowlby propose that suggests children's early attachment experiences shape their future relationships?

• Discontinuity Hypothesis

• Continuity Hypothesis

• Developmental Hypothesis

• Attachment Hypothesis

In Bowlby's study of juvenile thieves, what percentage of them had experienced maternal deprivation?

• 50%

• 39%

• 14%

• 4.5%