Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

Bowlby's maternal deprivation hypothesis (MDH) is one of the most debated ideas in developmental psychology. It proposes that continuous emotional care from a mother (or permanent mother-substitute) is essential for normal emotional and intellectual development, and that prolonged separation during early childhood can cause serious, lasting psychological harm. This hypothesis had a profound influence on childcare policy in the mid-20th century but has also been subject to significant criticism.

Key Definition: Maternal deprivation refers to the loss of emotional care from a mother or mother-substitute during a critical period in early childhood. Bowlby argued that such deprivation could cause permanent emotional and intellectual damage.

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The Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis

Bowlby (1951) argued that: