Effects of Institutionalisation

Question 1

Rutter et al’s research procedure

Answer 1

1. followed a group of 165 Romanian Orphans
2. orphans had been adopted into UK families
3. aim - to investigate the extent to which good care could make up poorly experiences of institutions
4. physical, cognitive and emotional dvelopment were assessed at 4,6,11,15 and 22-25 years
5. a group of 52 uk children who were adopted around the same time were the control group

Question 2

findings of Rutter et al’s research

Answer 2

1. when children first arrived in the UK half showed signs of delayed intellectual development and majority were severely undernourished
2. age 11 - showed differential rates of recovery that were related to their age of adoption
3. mean IQ of those children adopted before 6 months was 102 compared with 86 for those adopted between 6 months and 2 years and 77 for those adopted after 2 years
4. differences remained at age 16
5. ADHD was more common in 15 and 22-25 year old samples

Question 3

what were the findings in terms of attachment?

Answer 3

children adopted after 6 months showed signs of disinhibited attachment

Question 4

what are the symptoms of disinhibited attachment?

Answer 4

attention-seeking
clinginess
social behaviour directed towards all adults both familiar and unfamiliar
in contrast those children who were adopted before 6 months rarely displayed disinhibited attachment

Question 5

procedure for Zenah et als research

Answer 5

1. the Bucharest early intervention project assessing attachment in 95 Romanian children 12-31 months who spent most of their lives in institutional care
2. compared to a control group of 50 children who never lived in an institution
3. attachment type was measured using the strange situation
4. carers were asked about unusual social behaviours