Bowlby (1969) argued that maternal deprivation caused affectionless psychopathy: the inability to form meaningful interpersonal relationships in later life. However, the link between affectionless psychopathy and bond disruption is not wholly supported by later studies. Instead, it seems Bowlby's definition of 'deprivation' was too broader term, with his hypothesis relating to 'privation' instead. Rutter (1970) split the term 'deprivation' in to 'privation': lack of an attachment figure from the outset, and 'deprivation': loss or separation from the attachment figure with whom a bond had been created.
Bowlby drew his conclusion from several of his own studies. He looked at 44 juvenile delinquents, 14 of whom had a 'guiltless', i.e. affectionless character. 9 of these 14 had experienced separation from their primary care giver in childhood, whereas only 2 of his control group had. …
