attachment 3 Flashcards
institutionalisation
effects of living in an institutionalised setting eg. hospital/orphanage for long periods of time
very little emotional care in these places
thought that living in such settings affects child’s ability to form normal attachments
Rutter’s ERA study
aim of ERA was to investigate extent to which good care could make up for poor early experiences in institutions
study involves 165 Romanian children who spent their childhood years in Romanian orphanages
111 of these orphans were adopted before the age of two
54 of the orphans were adopted by the age of four
Each adoptee assessed at regular intervals to determine physical, social and cognitive development
- group of 52 kids adopted from same time in UK are control group
- mean IQ for those adopted before 6 months was 102 vs 86 for those adopted between 6 months + 2 years, and 77 for those adopted after 2 years
those adopted after 6 months had disinhibited attachment. symptoms include attention seeking, clinginess and social behaviour
additional study: Zeanah et al 2005
looked at attachment in 95 children aged 12-31 months that spent most of their life in an institution
65% had disorganised attachment (resistant + avoidant)
only 19% had secure attachment
effects of institutionalisation
1. disinhibited attachment
equally friendly towards people they know and people they have just met
highly unusual beh - most young ppl show stranger anx
caused by living w multiple caregivers during critical period - in orphanage up to 50 careworkers
effects of institutionalisation
2. intellectual disability
- in Rutter’s study most showed signs of this when arrived in UK
- but, most children adopted before 6 months had caught up by age 4
- intellectual development damaged by institutionalisation - but can be reversed by certain age
strength of romanian orphan studies
helped understanding of effects of institutionalisation
E: led to improvement in way children are cared for in institutions. Children’s homes now avoid having large nums of children being cared for by 1 staff (increased saff:kids ratio). introduced keyworker - 1 person plays central role in child’s care
C: improves the child’s QOL as more kids can develop secure attachments. prevents neglection of child
limitation of romanian orphan studies
Rutter - omanian orphan studies are rare
E: conditions found in these orphanages were very poor and not typical of what is found in UK
C: can’t generalise findings so they may not tell us about effects of institutionalisation in everyday life
limitation of romanian orphan studies
Rutter only studied children up to age 25
P: little adult related data
E: so there was limited info gathered on how these children developed past age 25, so long term affects of institutionalisation are unclear
C: no clear evidence to suggest whether effects of institutionalisation are long or short term
