Disruption of Attachment - Privation

Test yourself on Disruption of Attachment - Privation

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Privation - Bulldog Banks Study

Privation happens when children are not given the opportunity to form attachment bonds. This can have a very negative effect on children's development. Case studies provide insight into privation.

Privation

Privation is a situation where no attachment bond ever has the opportunity to form.
While studies of maternal deprivation can look at large samples and correlate these samples with later outcomes, studies of privation must rely on case studies (a detailed investigation of a single participant).
Privation is more likely to result in lasting damage than deprivation. But research results don’t always agree with each other. Some individuals recover while others don't improve.

Bulldog Banks study

Freud and Dann (1951) reported on a group of children who became known as the Bulldog Bank children. They were six refugees aged between three and four discovered by Russian troops at a concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic.
It was believed that the children were orphaned at only a few months old and so had no time to form any attachments.
While at the reception centre for refugee children, it was decided that all six of the children should stay together at the Bulldog Banks Centre in West Sussex.

Children's behaviour

The children could be highly aggressive and would spit and hit adults who tried to restrict their movements or behaviour. They had no idea what toys were for and would destroy them.
Their language skills were limited, which increased their levels of aggression and hostility. They would only engage with staff if they needed something.
But the children were devoted to each other and were very fair. For example, they insisted that each member of the group received the same share of food at mealtimes.

Outcome of study

With careful nurturing and support from staff, all children made rapid improvement. They displayed consideration and helpfulness to the staff, as well as identifying with adults in ways previously not seen.
Eventually, all the children were adopted and continued to make good progress.
The Bulldog Banks six weakens Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis because the children recovered from their early traumatic experiences.

Privation - Genie Study

Privation happens when children are not given the opportunity to form attachment bonds. This can have a very negative effect on children's development. Case studies provide insight into privation.

Genie - before 18

Curtiss (1977) and Rymer (1993) reported on a girl known as Genie who was denied human contact, beaten and strapped to a potty seat until she was discovered at the age of 13.
Genie could not stand or speak and spent most of her time spitting.
She began to develop some language skills and her IQ improved from 38 to 74 between 1971 and 1977.

Genie - after 18

At 18, she was returned to her mother but only stayed for a few months before being accommodated in a series of foster homes, where she was further abused. This lead to further deprivation.

Evaluation of Genie and other studies

While the Bulldog Banks children had each other, Genie was raised in isolation. So it might have been the children's attachment to each other that helped with their recovery.
Bowlby overstated the negative effects of maternal deprivation because those children who received care and sensitivity went on to make good recoveries.
Case studies are dependent upon retrospective memories that are often incorrect. For example, Genie’s mother often gave conflicting reports of what happened to her daughter.

Quinton et al (1984) - Study on Women in Institutional Care

Research aim: To investigate the long-term effects of privation.

Participants

A prospective follow-up study of two groups of women, first seen in the 60s.
Participants:
- 94 participants had been reared in institutions because of a breakdown in parenting.
- A control group of 51 women from the general population.

Procedure

Records from the institution were examined.
Both groups were interviewed when they were aged 21–27 years, and home observations were undertaken for those with young children.
Interviews focused on their recall of their childhood; their later family, peer, and work experiences; and their current circumstances, functioning, and adjustment.

Results & conclusion

Results
- The institution group showed poorer psychosocial functioning and were more likely to report parenting difficulties. However, a supportive spouse and good living conditions did mitigate these findings in some of the institution women.
Conclusion
- Privation can have long-term effects and these are often linked to parenting difficulties (lack of positive role models).

Evaluation

Strengths
- Detailed and in-depth records
- Standardised questionnaire and observations increase reliability.
Limitations
- Follow up studies rely on memory, which may not be accurate.
- It could be that social and economic factors play a larger role than early privation.
- Questionnaires may lack validity - leading to demand characteristics and social desirability.