institutionalization and Romanian orphan studies

Question 1

outline hodges and tizard’s study

Answer 1

• studied children placed into institutional care within first 4 months
• institutes policy of not letting carers form relationships with children prevented attachments forming
• some remained, some were adopted and some were restored to their original families
• assessed at ages 4 and 8 and 16
• adopted formed strong attachments within families, remained had no strong attachments, restored had poor relationships
• suggests early privation had negative effect on ability to form relationships even with good subsequent emotional care

Question 2

outline rutter et al romanian orphan study

Answer 2

• group of about 165 romanian orphans and assessed at 4, 6 and 11 in terms of physical, emotional and psychological development
• compared to 50 children adopted in britain as roughly same time
• majority were malnourished
• those adopted before 6 months had higher IQ than those adopted after 2 years
• those adopted after 6 months displayed signs of disinhibited attachment, whereas those adopted before 6 months didnt -> characterised by attention-seeking and affectionate behaviour towards any or all adults
• demonstrates the importance and effects of adopting orphans at different ages
• full recovery could be made if adoption occurred before 6 months

Question 3

evaluate rutter et al

Answer 3

• low ecological validity = conditions were especially poor, not representative of other orphans conditions and so may not be an accurate representation
• practical application = gives good guidance on how orphanages should improve and guidance on when children should aim to be adopted
• lack of extraneous variables = didnt have extraneous variables of PTSD that you get with war orphans, meaning the effects are more likely to be because of the institutional care and effects