*Romanian Orphan Studies Flashcards
What did the Romanian president encourage women to do?
Have 5 children
What was the result of many families not being able to afford to raise 5 children?
Many children went to orphanages
What opportunity arose from the Romanian orphan crisis?
The opportunity to study orphans
What were the initial conditions of orphans when they arrived in the UK?
Undernourished and had delayed intellectual development
What was the IQ of orphans adopted before 6 months?
102
What was the IQ of orphans adopted between 6 months and 2 years?
86
What was the IQ of orphans adopted after 2 years?
77
What did Beckett et al (2010) find regarding IQ differences at age 16?
The same differences in IQ were observed
What was the aim of Rutter’s research?
To investigate how much ‘good care’ could amend poor earlier experiences
How many orphans did Rutter follow in his research?
165 orphans
What was assessed in Rutter’s study at various ages?
Physical, cognitive and emotional development
What percentage of the control group was securely attached?
74%
What percentage of the institutional group was securely attached?
19%
What is disinhibited attachment?
Being equally friendly and affectionate to everyone, showing no stranger anxiety
What does Rutter say about disinhibited attachment?
It is an adaptation to multiple caregivers during a sensitive period
What percentage of the control group displayed disinhibited attachment?
20%
What percentage of the institutional group displayed disinhibited attachment?
44%
What signs did most children show when adopted?
Signs of intellectual disability
What does research suggest about children adopted before 6 months?
They caught up by age 4
What is one strength of the institutionalisation research?
It improves understanding of how to prevent the worst effects
What are ‘key workers’ in children’s homes designed to provide?
Emotional care
What is the current view on institutional care?
It is seen as a ‘last resort’
What was a significant limitation of earlier orphan research?
Confounding variables from wartime orphans
What was a limitation of the care in Romanian orphanages?
The care was poor
What is lacking in data regarding the Romanian orphans?
Data on adult development and long-term effects
What social sensitivity was highlighted by the studies?
Late adopted children have poorer outcomes
What effect might the publication of results have had on expectations for orphans?
Created a self-fulfilling prophecy
