Romanian orpham studies - effects of institutionalisation

Question 1

What is meant by institutionalisation?

Answer 1

The effects of living in an institutional setting

Question 2

Institutions include -

Answer 2

• children’s homes
• orphanages
  Etc

Question 3

When does institutionalisation occur ?

Answer 3

It occurs when children have lived in these environments for long periods of time

Question 4

What is often not or barely provided in these institutions?

Answer 4

There is often little emotional care provided

Question 5

What does the child adopt ?

Answer 5

The rules and norms of the institution

Question 6

Goldfarb

Answer 6

Compared 15 children raised in social isolation in institutions from 6 months unril 3.5 years of age with 15 children who went straight from birth mothers to foster homes
At age 3 the socially isolated children lagged behind the fostered children on measures of abstract thinking, social maturity, rule following and sociability
Between ages of 10 and 14 they continued to peform poorly with an average IQ of 72 compared to foster kids of 95

Question 7

Tizard and Hodges

Answer 7

Studied children placed into institutional care in the first 4 months of life. These children were privated as they had not formed attachments with their mothers
High staff turnover and the institutes policy of not letting carers form relationships with children prevented alternative attachments forming.
Some were adopted, some were restored to natural homes
Children were assessed at 4,8 and 16
Children who remained in the institution had no strong attachment and had problems relating to peers
Adopted children formed strong attachments within their adoptive families but not with people outside the family

Question 8

How does Goldfarb’s study support bowlby ?

Answer 8

As it shows that those in institutions experienced permanent intellectual developmental problems

Question 9

Background info on romanian orphan studies

Answer 9

• romania 1990s
• president ceaucescu abandoned their children in hospitals and orphanages
• they lived in very poor conditions

Question 10

What is the romanian orphan studies and example of ?

Answer 10

Extreme privation

Question 11

What would Bowlby argue about the Romanian orphan studies?

Answer 11

He would argue that the effects would be irreversible

Question 11

What did rutter carry out ?

Answer 11

Rutter carried out research whether the effects of institutional care and privation can be overcome