Separation from primary caregivers can have negative developmental effects on children. Bowlby theorized that attachment is essential for healthy development and occurs within a sensitive period. Studies found children in orphanages and hospitals showed signs of depression and tended to recover if separation was less than 3 months. Observations of children undergoing short separations found they progressed through stages of protest, despair and detachment. While separation can be problematic, providing substitute emotional support can help children cope with short-term separation fairly well with no long-term ill effects. The impact of separation depends on factors like age, environment, caregiver continuity and experience.

2. The effects of:
 disruption of attachment
 failure to form attachment (privation)
 institutional care

3. “Prolonged deprivation of a young
child of maternal care may have
grave and far-reaching effects on
his character …similar in form… to
deprivation of vitamins in infancy.”
Bowlby (1953)

4. Based on Bowlby’s ideas:
 Attachment is essential for healthy development
 Must occur within sensitive period
 Predicts developmental difficulty if the
attachment relationship goes wrong:
 General developmental problems
 Specific issues with social development

5. Spitz (1945)
Spitz & Wolf (1946)
 Found that children in orphanages and
long-term hospital care showed signs of
depression
 Tended to recover quickly if separation
was for <3 months.

6. Robertson & Bowlby 1952
Natural observations of children undergoing short-term
separations from their primary caregivers:
•John spent 9 days in residential nursery while his
mother went into hospital
• 2 year old Laura spent a short time in hospital herself
Findings: Children went through 3 stages of behaviour...
Protest Despair Detachment
Known as the P.D.D Model

7.  Were alarmed by the despair they saw in
hospitalised children, but found the medical
profession reluctant to acknowledge it.....
 The film of Laura (2y) used an unbiased time-
sampling technique (filmed for 40 minutes at a
time in random points in the day)
 After seeing the film one doctor completely
changed his perspective on the ward and could
suddenly hear and see the distress in the
children. He immediately introduced
unrestricted visiting hours and encouraged
parents of under 5s to stay with their child.
This film was responsible for huge social change all over the
world!

8. Does separation have to result in
problems?
Robertson & Robertson 1971
•John – residential nursery 9 days
 PDD & long-term anger to mother
BUT
•Children in short-term foster care in
Robertson’s own home  no ill effects

9.  Conclusion
Demonstrated the difference between being
placed in a foster care situation and being
institutionalised
 As long as children get substitute
emotional support they cope with
separation fairly well.....
 Evaluation
Can we generalise from a few case studies?
Good external and internal validity (real
setting, lack of observer bias, findings readily
available and easily replicated)
Robertson & Robertson 1971

10. Lots of factors affect the response:
Age
Environment
Caregiver
Continuity of care
Experience of separation
Personality
 Choose 3 of these factors and explain how a parent could
minimise problems if short-term separation is essential
Short-term effects of separation

11. So...
Separation = a physical separation from
caregiver.
- where alternative emotional care is
substituted  No long-term problems