Attachment - Romanian orphan studies

Question 1

Institutionalisation

Answer 1

Effects of being in an institutional setting, such as orphanages, for long periods of time with little emotional care

Question 2

Disinhibited attachment

Answer 2

Equally friendly & affectionate towards familiar people & strangers (highly unusual)

Question 3

Key study: Rutter et al

Answer 3

165 Romanian orphans adopted by UK families, investigate extent to which good care can make up for poor early experiences, psych. emo. cog. development assessed at ages 4, 6, 11, 16 & 22-26
Findings: 1/2 had delayed intellectual development

Question 4

Key study: Zeanah et al

Answer 4

Bucharest early intervention, measured attachment types of 95 12-31 year olds who grew up in institutions with SS compared to 50 control group members
Findings: 74% CG secure, 19% institutional secure, <20% CG disinhibited, 44% institutional disinhibited

Question 5

Strengths of effects of institutionalisation

Answer 5

Improved understanding (application in improving conditions for children growing up outside their family home -> understand effects of institutionalisation means learning how to prevent the worst effects)

Question 6

Limitations of effects of institutionalisation

Answer 6

Lack of data (longitudinal studies -> be a while until we know the true long-term effects being institutionalised had on the Romanian orphans -> the later adopted ones may catch up in development)