Abnormal Mothering as a Cause of Mental Subnormality—i. A Critique of Some Classic Studies of Maternal Deprivation in the Light of Possible Congenital Factors

Stott, D. H.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1962.tb02042.x

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This is confirmed by the literature already quoted, by other literature on male vulnerability to disorders early in life (e.g. Murphy 1947, Stott 1962, Schaffer and Emerson 1964 and by our personal experience.…”

Section: Diagnosis: the Clinical Picture Of The Syndromesupporting

confidence: 91%

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The Isolation Syndrome in Childhood

Clancy

McBride

1975

Develop Med Child Neuro

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SUMMARY A new diagnostic category—the Isolation Syndrome—is proposed to describe a pattern of abnormal behaviour in children. The child's ‘isolated’ state manifests itself in defective social interaction and communication between mother and child, in disorders of perceptual function and motor skills, in stereotyped behaviour and in general developmental retardation, especially in language. The typical situations in which the syndrome is likely to occur are discussed, and methods of treatment, both prophylactic and remedial, are given in detail. The purpose of identifying the Isolation Syndrome is to alert clinicians to the possibility that in some children with abnormal patterns of behaviour there is a specific and treatable difficulty in the child's environment. RÉSUMÉ Une nouvelle entité diagnostique, le Syndrome d'Isolation, est proposée par les auteurs pour décrire une forme de comportement anormal chez les enfants. L'état de l'enfant isolé se manifeste par une interaction sociale et une communication mère‐enfant défectueuse, des troubles des fonctions perceptives et de l'habileté motrice, un comportement stéréotypé et un retard mental général, notamment sur le plan du langage. Les situations typiques dans lesquelles on peut penser qu'un tel syndrome se manifeste sont discutées; les méthodes de traitement, préventif et curatif, sont indiquées en détail. Le but de l'identification du syndrome d'isolation est d'alerter les cliniciens sur la possibility de comportements d'ensemble anormaux chez quelques enfants avec à l'origine dans l'environnement de l'enfant des difficultés spécifiques et curables. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Zur Beschreibung eines abnormen Verhaltensmusters bei Kindern wird eine neue diagnostische Kategorie—das Isolierungssyndrom—vorgeschlagen. Die Vereinsamung eines Kindes manifestiert sich in fehlerhafter sozialer Beziehung und Kommunikation zwischen Mutter und Kind, in Störungen der Aufnahmefunktionen und der motorischen Fähigkeiten, in stereotypem Verhalten und in allgemeiner Entwicklungsverzögerung, insbesondere der Sprache. Es werden die typischen Situationen, in denen das Syndrom auftrétén kann, diskutiert und sowohl prophylaktische wie therapeutische Behandlungs‐methoden detailliert aufgeführt. Das Isolierungssyndrom wird hier deshalb beschrieben, um den Kliniker auf die Möglich‐keit hinzuweisen, daß bei einigen Kindern mit abnormen Verhaltensmustern spezielle und therapierbare Schwierigkeiten in der kindlichen Umwelt bestehen. RESUMEN Se propone una nueva categoría diagnóstica (el Síndrome de Aislamiento) para describir un esquema anormal de comportamiento en niños. El estado ‘aislado’ del nino se manifiesta en forma de una defectuosa interaccion social y defectuosa comunicación entre la madre y el niño, en forma de alteraciones de la función perceptiva y de las habilidades motrices, en un comportamieto estereotipado y en un retraso general del desarrollo. especialmente en el lenguaje. Se discuten las situaciones tipicas en las cuales el sindrome es mas fácil que ocurra y se dan en detalle los m...

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Section: Diagnosis: the Clinical Picture Of The Syndromesupporting

confidence: 91%

“…* Burlingham 1964, Fraiburg 1964, Freedman 1964, Ross et a / . 1967, Williams 1969, Smith et al 1969 t Stark 1967 (Observations in 34 children, 4 to 9* years, all showing EEG abnormalities and failure of f Stott 1962;Webster 1963;Menolascino 1965a,b;Bijou 1966;Gardner 1967;Phillips 1967. language skills).…”

Section: Table 1vmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Isolation Syndrome in Childhood

Clancy

McBride

1975

Develop Med Child Neuro

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“…However, Pinneau's (1955) detailed review strongly suggested that maternal separation was, at best, of minor importance in Spitz's studies. This and subsequent investigations (e.g., Caldwell, Hersher, Lipton, Richmond, Stern, Eddy, Drachman, & Rockman, 1963;Gardner, Hawkes, & Burchinal, 1961;Schaffer & Emerson, 1964;Stott, 1962;Yarrow, 1964) have made it evident that Bowlby's and Spitz's rather unequivocal conclusions concerning the effects of maternal deprivation were based on the effects of many confounded variables. Stott (1962) in particular presented a strong case for the organic bases of much of what had been conceived of as psychological damage.…”

mentioning

confidence: 91%

Mother-infant separation in the patas monkey.

Preston¹,

Baker²,

Seay³

1970

Developmental Psychology

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Studies of human beings and several macaque monkey species have indicated a similar reaction to maternal separation, involving a shortlived agitation, followed by a period of physical and mental depression, and, in human beings, sometimes culminating in social indifference and sociopathic behavior. It was found that the six 7-month-old patas monkey infants used in this study showed the typical initial agitation and subsequent decline in social behavior during the 3-week separation; but that an increase in peer interaction, rather than the common rise in maternal interaction found in other species, followed reunion. Three factors may interact to produce a less severe separation reaction and increased peer interaction following separation, as compared to the results of macaque studies: (a) patas tend to be more permissive mothers, (b) patas infants have a longer, more intense, early mother-infant relationship, and (c) contact play is a secondary play pattern in patas, but is the primary play pattern in macaques.

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“…IN THE first article (Stott, 1962a) evidence was quoted which suggested that congenital factors may account for some of the defects of personality and intellect hitherto attributed to maternal deprivation. Many cases of mental defect are undoubtedly genetic or at least congenital in origin, but in cases showing no specific morphological stigmata there is more room for an interaction of congenital and postnatal environmental factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abnormal Mothering as a Cause of Mental Subnormality—i. A Critique of Some Classic Studies of Maternal Deprivation in the Light of Possible Congenital Factors

Cited by 14 publications

References 25 publications

The Isolation Syndrome in Childhood

The Isolation Syndrome in Childhood

Mother-infant separation in the patas monkey.

Abnormal Mothering as a Cause of Mental Subnormality—ii. Case Studies and Conclusions

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