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Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis Bowlby states in his hypothesis that if an infant is unable to form an intimate and continuous relationship with their mother or maternal figure then they are at risk of having an inability to form attachment with people in the child's later life, forming characteristics of affection less psychopathy, delinquency and problems with their cognitive development.

He also states that there must be a continuous relationship between the child and it's mother or maternal figure. He said discontinuous relationships are unstable and disrupt the development of a stable relationship, also the relationship between a child and its mother or maternal figure must develop before the age of two and a half years otherwise there is the risk of emotional trauma. Trauma to the relationship up to five years old can also be harmful. Any trauma in these periods increase the likely hood of the child struggling to form attachments in later life etc. However the relationship doesn't have to be with the child's birth mother.

The findings from Bowlby's research came as quite a surprise because no one had really considered the long-term significance that the effects of separation had on children. It was assumed that a good standard of food and physical care was all that was needed for a healthy child and good care, this was the belief of the majority however Bowlby believed that it wasn’t enough to make sure that a child was well-fed and kept safe and warm. He believed that children needed a ‘warm, intimate and continuous relationship’ with a mother or permanent carer to ensure continuing normal state of mental health.

Bowlby believed that a young child who is denied care because of the frequent and/or prolonged separations may become emotionally disturbed and unattached. However, this only applies to a critical period in development (separation will only have this effect if this happens before the age of about two and a half years), and if there is no mother like figure around. Bowlby also felt there was a continuing risk up until the age of five years, but this is not as severe as it would be in the child's "critical period". Bowlby suggested that the long term consequence of deprivation was mental health problems such as depression and similar problems that link to a lonely, detached feeling.