Romanian orphan studies

Question 1

Key Study: Romanian orphan studies

Procedure

Answer 1

165 Romanian children were studied who suffered from institutionalisation. Of this group 111 were adopted by 2 and another 54 before 4.
The adoptees have been tested at 4,6,11,15 for their physical, cognitive and social development.
Compared to 52 British children who were adopted before 6 months.

Question 2

Key study: Findings

Answer 2

• Romanians lagged behind the British children
• They were smaller, and mentally retarded
• By age four, all of the Romanians adopted before 6 months had caught up.
• Significant deficets remain in some individuals who were adopted after six months

Question 3

Effects of institutionalisation

Answer 3

• Physical underdevelopment
• Intellectual underdevelopment
• Poor future parenting (Quinton)

Question 4

A03: Individual differences

Answer 4

Some children are not as strobgly affected as others

Question 5

A03: Real life application

Answer 5

Bowlby changed the way children were viewed as in hospital
Also explains the importance of early adoption
Research shows that adopted infants are just as securely attached as non-adoptive infants

Question 6

A03: Value of longitudinal studies

Answer 6

Benefits are large as it can be studies over time.

Tells us that some affects disappear after time

Question 7

A03: Deprivation was only one factor

Answer 7

The physical conditions were awful - impacted their health

Lived in poverty, parental disharmony = underdevelopment