Attatchment

Question 1

Rutter and songua-Barke’s research

Answer 1

Research into effects of institutionalisation on a group of 165 orphans compared to 52 british adopted children

Question 2

Findings from rutter and Songua-Barke’s research

Answer 2

-Romanian children all had poorer cognitive, social and physical development
-By the age of 4 some Romanian children had caught up with the British children if they were adopted before 6 months
-Those adopted after 6 months had trouble getting on with peers and demonstrated disinhibited attachment types
This shows it’s possible to recover from institutionalisation whilst reinforcing the idea of a critical period

Question 3

Zeanah et al research

Answer 3

Bucharest early intervention project which involved 95 Romanian children who spent almost all their lives in institution. They assessed their attachment types using the strange situation and compared to a control group would had never been institutionalised. 19% of Romanian children were securely attached compared to 74% of the control group would

Question 4

Evaluation of research into institutionalisation

Answer 4

+ Shows how important it is for children to have a continuous attachment. Led to improvements in adoption and institutions.
- findings could be considered socially sensitive to children in institutions and hinder prospects in later life
- self reported data. Parents are asked to provide information and may be subject to subject desirability bias. Strange situation is very westernised and may not relate to Romanian culture
- don’t tell us much about adult behaviours. Longitudinal study so we have to wait for the Romanian orphans to grow up to see how this is affecting adult life and their own children

Question 5

Internal working model

Answer 5

Early attachments provide a template for later relationships

Question 6

Continuity hypothesis

Answer 6

Our later adult relationships mirror our early ones

Question 7

Minnesota longitudinal study

Answer 7

Started in 1876 using women pregnant with their first child
Children were assessed at regular intervals throughout their lives
12-18 months: attachment style assessed in the strange situation is
6-8 years: assessed by teachers for their social competence
20-21: assessed B with romantic partners how well they dealt with conflict

Question 8

Results of Minnesota longitudinal study

Answer 8

Children who were securely attached as infants were rated as more socially competitent by teachers and had more secure friendships
Showing how early attachments influences childhood and adulthood relationships