Disruption (Robertson and Robertson)

Question 1

What is deprivation, what are some common examples of deprivation and how does this link to orphanage or foster parents

Answer 1

Children without parents are typically raised in an orphanage or have foster parents and are adopted from other countries

Children are often deprived through war or separation on catastrophic events

During the 1950s; only 25% of hospitals allowed day visits from family members, 12% prohibited visitors - limit introducing sickness and due to stress on infant (disruption from mother)

Question 2

Robertson & Robertson Case Study No. 1

Answer 2

One of the case studies was carried out on a boy named John who was put into a residential nursery for a total duration of 9 days. During this time, John attempted to form an attachment to a nursery nurse but was unable to. His father visited but could not provide assistance and when reunited with his mother, John rejected her.

Question 3

Robertson & Robertson Case Study No. 2

Answer 3

Another case study regarded a girl named Laura, who was in the hospital for 8 days. During the stay, Laura was extremely upset and settles down by the end of her stay, appearing withdrawn from the mother. Her trust appeared to be shaken.

Question 4

Robertson and Robertson Case Study No. 3

Answer 4

Jane, Lucy, Thomas and Kate were separated from their primary caregiver and all under the age of four. They were placed in foster care with the Robertson whilst their mothers were in hospital. The mediating variable was the high level of substitute emotional care, similar routine and being able to see their father frequently.
Short term effects included some signs of distress and reluctance to part with the foster mother, and long term effects were a good emotional bond with the primary care givers

Question 5

Robertson and Robertson AMRC

Answer 5

Aim: The aim of the case study was to investigate the effects of short-term separation on attachment
Method: The children being observed were placed in a residential nursery, hospital and foster care. The independent variable was the emotional substitute care provided and the dependent variable was the effect on attachment
Research: Findings demonstrated that children, especially those without multiple attachments, demonstrated the PDD model, as an effect of short-term separation. Children who lacked sufficient emotional substitute care, were not provided a stable routine or had attachment with their father tended to have a negative effect to the short term separation, whilst the children who were provided the following factors, responded to the short term separation positively and had a positive attachment with the separated caregiver.
Conclusion: These findings helped to improve overall institutional care

Question 6

Describe PDD

Answer 6

Protest: The child cries, screams and protests angrily when the parent leaves. They will try to cling on to the parent to stop them leaving.

Despair: The child’s protesting begins to stop, and they appear to be calmer although still upset. The child refuses others’ attempts for comfort and often seems withdrawn and uninterested in anything.

Detachment: If separation continues the child will start to engage with other people again. They will reject the caregiver on their return and show strong signs of anger.