Institutionalisation

Question 1

Rutter et al.(2011) - Romanian orphans

Answer 1

1) Group of 165 Romanian orphans who experienced very poor conditions before adopted in UK.
2) Longitudinal study that tested extent to which good care can make up for poor early experiences in institutions - physical, cognitive & emotional development was assessed at 4,6,11,15 & 22-25 yrs.
3) Control group of 52 adopted children from UK.

Question 2

Romanian orphans (ERA) - Findings

Answer 2

1) Half of orphans showed delayed intellectual development when they came to UK. At 11, recovery rates were related to age at adoption:
–> Adopted before 6 months - mean IQ 102
–> Adopted after 2 yrs - mean IQ 77
The differences were still apparent at age 16.

2) Frequency of disinhibited attachment related to age at adoption:
–> Apparent in children adopted after 6 months old: clinginess, attention-seeking, indiscriminate affection to strangers.
–> Rare in children adopted before 6 months old.

3) Findings support Bowlby’s view that there is a sensitive period in development of attachments - failure to form attachment before 6 months old has long-lasting effects.

Question 3

Zeanah et al.(2005) - BEI

Answer 3

Bucharest Early Intervention Project:
1) Used the ‘SS’ to assess attachment in 95 Romanian children aged 12-31 months who’d spent most their lives in institutional care.
2) Compared to control group of 50 children who’d never experienced institutional care.

Question 4

Zeanah et al.(2005) - Findings

Answer 4

1) Only 19% of institutionalised group were securely attached - 74% of control.
2) 44% of institutionalised group had characteristics of disinhibited attachment - 20% of control had them.

Question 5

Effects of Institutionalisation

Answer 5

1) Disinhibited children - tend to be equally friendly & affectionate to ppl they know or strangers –> may be an adaptation to multiple CGs.

2) Damage to intellectual development - show signs of intellectual disability –> effect is not as apparent if children are adopted before 6 months of age.

Question 6

Strength of ERA

Answer 6

REAL-WORLD APPLICATION

1) Results have led to improvements in the way children are cared for in institutions - now avoid having lots of CGs for each child & have 1or 2 key workers –> so institutionalised children have a chance to develop normal attachments & avoid disinhibited attachment.

Question 7

Limitation for ERA

Answer 7

LACK OF DATA

1) Too soon to say for certain if children suffered permanent effects since we only have data on their development as far as early twenties –> some children may ‘catch up’.

Question 8

Limitation of ERA

Answer 8

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES

1) Children involved could have experienced neglect/abuse/bereavement before institutionalisation –> hard to observed effects of institutionalisation in isolation —>

Question 9

Extra Evaluation

Answer 9

SOCIAL SENSITIVITY

1) Late-adopted children were shown to have low IQ –> can subsequently effect how they are treated by parents, teachers etc. might also create self-fulfilling prophecy.

2) BUT much has been learned from ERA studies that can benefit future institutionalised children –> potential benefits probably outweigh their social sensitivity.