Romanian orphan 2010

Question 1

what was the aim?

Answer 1

to investigate the effects of institutionalisation

Question 2

what was the procedure?

Answer 2

Michael Rutter and Edmund Sounga-Burke researched 165 Romanian orphans who were institutionalised and thus suffered the effects of institutionalisation
out of these 156 children, 111 had been adopted before the age of 2 and the 54 others had been adopted by the age of 4
These children were assessed on their physical, cognitive and social development in intervals 4,6,11 and 15 against a control group of 52 British children who had been adopted before 6 months
teachers and parents were also assessed

Question 3

what were the findings?

Answer 3

At first the Romanian orphans lagged behind their British counterparts, they weighed smaller and were classified as mentally retarded
however, at age 4, it was true that almost all orphans adopted before the age of 6 months caught up
Subsequent follow ups have confirmed that severe deficits remain in a substantial minority of individuals who received institutional care beyond 6 months old many of these orphans showed disinhibited attachment and had problems with peer relationships.

Question 4

name an effect of instiutionlisation

Answer 4

physical development
orphans were smaller than usual
Gardner in 1972 argued that lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment led to deprivation dwarfism

Question 5

name another effect of institutionalisation

Answer 5

Cognitive development - cognitive abilities may be affected by lack of emotional care

Question 6

Name another effect of institutionalisation

Answer 6

Disinhibited attachment- a form of insecure attachment whereby an individual does not discriminate between attachment figures they may show inappropriate familiarity / over friendliness and may seek attention

Question 7

Name one last effect of institutionalisation

Answer 7

poor parenting
Harlow’s study showed that monkeys with the surrogate mother became poor parents
Quinton et al 1984 conducted a study of 50 mothers who had been institutionalised against a control group of 50 mothers who had not
The mothers who had been institutionalised had difficulty raising their children i.e they had children who had been in care