Romanian Orphan Studies

Question 1

Institutionalisation

Answer 1

Effects of growing up in orphanage, kids often suffer from lack of emotional care - unable to form attachments

Question 2

Disinhibited Attachment

Answer 2

Kids showed indiscriminate and equal attention towards unfamiliar people

Question 3

Chungai et al

Answer 3

. Romanian orphans showed significantly decreased activity in certain parts of the brain
- Hippocampus = learning
- Amygdala = emotions
. Dysfunction in these brain regions may have resulted from stress of early deprivation
^ long term cognitive/behaviour deficits

Question 4

Rutter (2011)

Answer 4

. Studied 165 Romanian orphans at different stages of their life
^ longitudinal/natural study

British families adopted them:
. before 6 months = high IQ, normal development
. between 6 months-1yr = lower IQ, dishibited attachment
. between 2-4yrs = lowest IQ, disinhibited attachment

Question 5

Bucharest Early Intervention Project

Answer 5

. Zenah et al assessed attachment in 136 Romanian orphans (12-31 months) spent average 90% of life in institution - compared to a control group
. Took part in SS
. 74% of control group securely attached, 19% of institutionalised group

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

. Ethnocentric
. Not Representative
. Research Support