Effects Of Institusionalisation Flashcards
Outline Rutter’s research into effects of institusionalisation
-Longitudinal study of 165 Romanian orphans adopted into UK after either spending less or over 6 months in an orphanage
- assessed physical, emotional and intellectual development at 4, 6, 11 and 22-25 yrs, compared to control
~ at 11 mean IQ of children adopted before 6 months 102, after 2 years was 77
~ those adopted after 6 months more likely to have disinhibted attachment
Describe traits of disinhibited attachment
Attention seeking, clinginess, equally friendly and affectionate to familiar and unfamiliar adults
Outline Zeanah’s study into effects of institusionalisation
- Assessed attachment of 95 Romanian orphans aged 12-31 months, had spent 90% of lives in care
- compared to control group
- assessed attachemnr types and interviewed carers about unusual social behaviours related to disinhibted attachment
- 44% classified as having disinhibited attachment vs 75% of control who had secured attachemnt
What were the consequences of institusionalisation found to be?
- intellectual problems (low IQ)
- disinhibited attachment
- after 2 years (critical period) had more severe effects on IQ
Give strengths for Romanian orphans studies
+ Real world application
- orphanages now give orphans smaller no of caregivers in institutions; helps develop secure attachments
- practical value, avoids disinhibited attachment and promotes secure IWM
+ Isolated effects of institusionalisation
- removes extraneous variables as orphans did not suffer trauma, loss, etc, were taken at birth
- high IV -> can be more confident effects are from institusionalisation and not prior life experiences
Give a limitation of Romanian orphans
– Extreme case
- neglect was so severe compared to other institutions - significantly worse conditions than a typical orphanage
- cannot generalise findings, may in reality about effects of institusionalisation and deprivation in other orphanages
