11. Effects of Institutionalisation

Question 1

what are the effects of institutionalisation

Answer 1

• disinhibited attachment
• poor intellectual development
• physical underdevelopment

Question 2

Outline the effects of institutionalisation: Disinhibited attachment

Answer 2

one possibke effect of early institutionalisation is that it can lead to disinhibited attachment

this is when individuals who have been raised in institutional care are equally friendly and affectionate towards people they know well or who are strangers they have just met

this is highly unusual behaviour as most children develop stranger anxiety

other possible symptoms of DA include attention seeking and clinginess

these behaviours child be viewed as an adaption to living with multiple caregivers during the sensitive (critical) period for attachment formation

Question 3

Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation: Disinhibited attachment
- SRENGTH

Answer 3

P: Support from Rutter et al (2011)
E: found that Romanian orphans adopted by British families after 6 months in the orphanage showed signs of attention seeking, clinginess and indiscriminate behaviour towards family or unfamiliar adults
E: this was not the case for orphans adopted before 6 months
L: supports the idea that institutionalisation increases the risk of disinhibited attachment developing

Question 4

Outline the effects of institutionalisation: Poor Intellectual Development

Answer 4

children who have experienced a lack of emotional care may show problems with their intellectual development

for example, institutionalised children may show a lower IQ score than average, or on the more extreme end, show severe problems with their intellect and be classed as mentally retarded

this can impact on all aspects of their life but there is debate over whether these effects are long-term or short-term

Question 5

Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation: Poor Intellectual Development
- SRENGTH

Answer 5

P: support from Rutter et al (2011)
E: found that the mean IQ if adopted before 6 months was 102, if adopted between 6 months and 2 1/2 years was 86, and if adopted after 2 years was 77
E: this means evidence shows the longer the child stays in an institution there is a negative effect on IQ
L: supports poor intellectual development effect and shows how adoption before 6 months can reduce the lowering of IQ
E: may also have practical applications by encouraging adoption of children before 6 months to help prevent poor intellectual development

Question 6

Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation: Poor Intellectual Development
- LIMITATION

Answer 6

P: long term effects are not clear
E: although Rutter et al did follow the children over a number of years, it is too soon to say with certainty whether the effects shown are long term or not
E: eg, may be that those showing lower than average IQ may catch up as adults
L: current research may be misleading

Question 7

Outline the effects of institutionalisation: **Physical Underdevelopment*

Answer 7

children who have experienced a lack of emotional care may show physical underdevelopment as well as emotional problems

for example, children are usually physically smaller and research shows that it is a lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment that leads to this underdevelopment

the production of growth hormones is affected by the severe emotional disturbance resulting in physical underdevelopment

Question 8

Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation: Physical Underdevelopment
- STRENGTH

Answer 8

P: support from La Mere et al (2006)
E: carried out a longitudinal study of 36 Romanian orphans adopted in Canada
E: those adopted aged 4 1/2 were physically smaller than a control group, but this difference disappeared by age 10 1/2. this was the same for physical health
L: this suggests that institutionalisation can have a negative effect of health and growth, but the effect may not be permanent

Question 9

Evaluate the effects of institutionalisation: general
- STRENGTH

Answer 9

P: practical applications
E: studying Romanian orphans has improved the way children are cared for in institutions
E: eg, orphanages and children’s homes now avoid having large numbers of caregivers for each child and instead ensure that only one or two key workers play a central role
L: research immensely valuable in improving children’s lives in the real world and helping to prevent disinhibited attachment