NCJ Number
64036
Journal
CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 7 Dated: (1978) Pages: 49-85
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
MATERNAL DEPRIVATION AT AN EARLY AGE IS DISCUSSED AS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF ARRESTED EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND OF DEEP-SEATED NEUROSES LEADING TO ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE SEPARATION OF A CHILD FROM ITS MOTHER UP TO 3 YEARS OF AGE HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED AS THOROUGHLY AS THOSE OF THE ABSENCE OF A FATHER FIGURE. SUCH ADVERSE EFFECTS CAN, HOWEVER, BE OBSERVED AS EARLY AS THE FIRST YEAR OF A BABY'S LIFE. STUDIES OF THIS PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY BEARS LITTLE RELATION TO HEREDITY FACTORS AND BASIC INTELLIGENCE, BUT EXHIBITS UNMISTAKABLE CORRELATION WITH EARLY FAMILY EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY MATERNAL DEPRIVATION. AMONG THE SEVEREST EMOTIONAL INJURIES OBSERVED IN CHILDREN UP TO 6 YEARS OF AGE ARE APATHY ALTERNATING WITH HYPERACTIVE BEHAVIOR, INPULSIVENESS, AGGRESSIVE DEMANDS FOR IMMEDIATE SATISFACTION OF ALL WHIMS AND DESIRES, AND LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS TO AFFECTIONATE WORDS OR GESTURES. THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGES AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE LIES IN THAT CHILDREN LIVE ENTIRELY IN THE PRESENT AND ARE INCAPABLE OF ABSTRACT THOUGHT. A CLOSE, HAPPY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MOTHER NOT ONLY SATISFIES A CHILD'S EMOTIONAL NEEDS, BUT PROVIDES HIM WITH A SUBSTITUTE CONSCIENCE, HELPING HIM DEVELOP CONTROL OVER NEGATIVE INSTINCTS AND IMPULSES, TEACHING HIM FROM EXPERIENCE, AND LEADING HIM TO DEVELOP CONCEPTS OF RIGHT AND WRONG. STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF MATERNAL DEPRIVATION IN EARLY INFANCY HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITH DIRECT OBSERVATION OF THE CHILDREN AT THE MOST CRITICAL AGES IN CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS, OR WITH RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES CONDUCTED ON DELINQUENT ADULTS. THE DECISIVE EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC FAMILY EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY MATERNAL DEPRIVATION, WERE DEMONSTRATED IN EVERY CASE. AMONG THE MOST FREQUENT TYPES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN SUCH CHILDREN ARE PATHOLOGICAL LYING AND THEFT. SUBSTITUTE MOTHERS CAN, ALLEVIATE, EVEN TOTALLY ELIMINATE, THE ADVERSE EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF MATERNAL DEPRIVATION; THIS CAN ALSO OCCUR BY MEANS OF PERSONALIZED CARE AND ATTENTION GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN EXCEPTIONAL CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION IS INCLUDED OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OBSERVED IN WAR ORPHANS RAISED IN REFUGEE CAMPS AND INTERNATIONAL SHELTERS. --IN SPANISH. (LGR).