1. Privation
Failure to form attachments

2. Privation
Definition:
Occurs when a child has never formed an
attachment bond.
Usually as a
result of
complete lack of
emotional care of
the child – during
the first few
years
Can cause
permanent
damage to
emotional and
social
development

3. Hodges & Tizard (1989)
Aim –
Investigate whether a lack of emotional
care had permanent and irreversible
effects to emotional and social
development

4. Hodges & Tizard (1989) –
procedure
Interviews in an institution
65 children who were institutionalised before 4 months
The institution had a high turnover of staff
(why would they do this?)
Interviewed children, parents and teachers regarding
attitudes and behaviour
Interviews were compared with a control group
(who might their control group be?)

5. Hodges & Tizard (1989)
Findings –
By the age
of 2
• Children exhibited unusual attachment
behaviours – demanding of adult attention
At the age
of 4
• Children did not have any deep
relationships, were much more attentionseeking
At 16
• Less likely to have a special friend or be
part of a social group
• More likely to be quarrelsome and bullies

6. Hodges & Tizard (1989)
What conclusions can be
drawn from Hodges &
Tizard’s research?
There is evidence that
early institutionalisation
can cause permanent
damage

7. Evaluation – A02
1. Genie
2. Attrition
3. Contradictory Evidence

8. Positive Evaluation - Genie
Genie was locked in her room by her father
until she was 13 ½ because he thought she
was retarded. When she was found she was
severely physically underdeveloped and
couldn’t stand or talk. Genie never fully
recovered socially or learned to speak
This is positive at it demonstrates
Hodges and Tizard’s findings that
privation has irreversible effects
However...

9. Negative Evaluation - Attrition
Hodges and Tizard’s study was
longitudinal meaning that people are
very likely to drop out – resulting in a
reduction in the sample
This is a weakness because it would result
in sample bias, specifically as it is
usually the most troubled participants
who drop out.

10. Negative Evaluation – Czech twins
The Czech twins were locked up for 7 years by their
stepmother and couldn’t talk when first discovered.
They were subsequently looked after by 2 loving
sisters and by 14 they had near normal intellectual
and social functioning. By 20 they were above
average intelligence and had excellent relationships
with members of their foster family
This is a weakness because it
demonstrates that the effects of
privation are reversible
However...