Outline and evaluate research into the effect of failure to form attachment
Privation is the failure to form attachment. It occurs when a child has no opportunity to form a relationship with a parental figure, or when such relationship is distorted, due to their treatment. It is different to deprivation, which occurs when an established relationship is severed. It is understood that privation can produce social, emotional, and intellectual problems for children; however, how inevitable such problems become as a results of privation and the extent to which can be reserved remains an issue of debate among psychologists.
Curtis’ (1977) study of Genie gives much information about the privation we know today. Genie was a feral child, victim of severe abuse, neglect and social isolation caused by her father. She was locked alone in a room from the age of 20 months until she was 13 years and 7 months old. During this time she was almost always strapped to a child's toilet or bound in a crib with her arms and legs immobilized. Genie was never exposed to a significant amount of speech therefore she did not acquire a first language. Due to all this treatment she was undersized, she never focalized, continually sniffed, salivated, spat and clawed and was also very interested in exploring environmental stimuli. After Genie was rescued psychologists, linguists and other scientists focused a great deal of attention on her case. Genie was cared for initially at a childrens hospital in Los Angeles but subsequent placements eventually gave rise to debate. She was moved after 8 months to a foster home for a month and a half. After this move she was then again moved to multiple foster homes before returning to her mother, who at this point didn’t care for her, this led to her being put into a disabled adults hospital. Genie never made a full recovery, she lacked social responsiveness. Her lack of recovery may be due to the fact that she was found beyond the ‘sensitive period’ or because of the physical deprivation she experienced. However, there are many
Curtis’ (1977) study of Genie gives much information about the privation we know today. Genie was a feral child, victim of severe abuse, neglect and social isolation caused by her father. She was locked alone in a room from the age of 20 months until she was 13 years and 7 months old. During this time she was almost always strapped to a child's toilet or bound in a crib with her arms and legs immobilized. Genie was never exposed to a significant amount of speech therefore she did not acquire a first language. Due to all this treatment she was undersized, she never focalized, continually sniffed, salivated, spat and clawed and was also very interested in exploring environmental stimuli. After Genie was rescued psychologists, linguists and other scientists focused a great deal of attention on her case. Genie was cared for initially at a childrens hospital in Los Angeles but subsequent placements eventually gave rise to debate. She was moved after 8 months to a foster home for a month and a half. After this move she was then again moved to multiple foster homes before returning to her mother, who at this point didn’t care for her, this led to her being put into a disabled adults hospital. Genie never made a full recovery, she lacked social responsiveness. Her lack of recovery may be due to the fact that she was found beyond the ‘sensitive period’ or because of the physical deprivation she experienced. However, there are many