Roman orphan studies. Effects of institutionalisation

Question 1

What was the procedure in Rutter’s study?

Answer 1

165 Romanian orphans

111 of which were adopted by 2 years

The remaining 54 were adopted by 4 years

All orphans were tested at regular intervals (4 years, 6 years, 11 years, 15 years) following their adoption
-physical and cognitive development were assessed

The same was done to the control group (52 adopted British children) and results were compared to the Romanians

Question 2

What were the findings of Rutter’s study?

Answer 2

At the time of adoption, Romanian orphans were lacking behind the British ones in all measures
-Physically
-Socially
-Cognitively
(They were mentally retarded and smaller)

By 4 years old, Romanian orphans who had been adopted before the age of 6 months had caught up to the British

In those adopted after 6 months there were long term deficits
-They struggled to form relationships

Question 3

What was the procedure of Zeanah’s study?

Answer 3

Compared attachment of Romanian children who HAD been in an institution 90% of their lives, to Romanian children who HADN’T ever been in an institution (control group)

Aged 12-31 months

Tested using the strange situation

Question 4

What were the findings of Zeanah’s study?

Answer 4

The institutionalised children showed signs of disinhibited (insecure) attachment.

Question 5

Conclusions about effects of institutionalistion

Answer 5

Physical underdevelopment due to a lack of emotional care
-deprivation dwarfism

Intellectual underfunctioning due to emotional deprivation

Disinhibited attachment
(infants will treat strangers the same as caregivers)

Leads to poor parenting
-supported by Harlow’s monkeys (went on to become poor parents)

Question 6

AO3 -

Individual differences

Answer 6

Some children are treated different than others.

-Rutter suggested that a child who smiles more is more likely to receive better care in the institution

It is therefore not possible to say that institutionalisation certainly leads to the inability to form attachment

Question 7

AO3 -

There were other factors other than deprivation

Answer 7

Deprivation is just ONE of the factors.

Physical conditions in the institutions were poor

Upon adoption, the children were often put in to poor families too

Question 8

AO3 +

Real-life application

Answer 8

The study outlined the importance of early adoption

Before the study, mothers were asked to look after the baby for a while before giving it up for adoption. (it is now known that this causes attachment to form)

Now, babies are often adopted within the first week of birth.
-Means that adoptive attachments are now as strong as biological ones

Question 9

AO3 +

Longitudinal study

Answer 9

Reduces the likelyhood of mistaken conclusions which may occur from a short term study

Allowed Rutter to see that the effects of institutionalisation went away over time in those who were