Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation

Question 1

What is institutionalisation?

Answer 1

• Infant living outside family home (Orphanage)
• Child starts adopting their rules and norms which could lead to deindividuation (affecting child’s intellectual, emotional and social development)

Question 2

Outline the procedure of the main research into effects of institutionalisation

Answer 2

• Aim was to investigate institutionalisation in Romanian infants
• Rutter followed 165 Romanian orphans adopted in Britain to investigate the extent to which good care could make up for poor early experiences in institutions
• Children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development were assessed at 4,6,11 and 15 years of age

Question 3

Outline the findings of the main research into effects of institutionalisation

Answer 3

• Rutter found majority to be severely undernourished
• Initially resulted in 50% of Romanian orphans showing signs of delayed intellectual development
• By 11 years, adoptees showed differential rates of recovery related to age at which adopted at
• As age at which Romanian orphans were adopted increased, their later IQ scores at 11 years of age decreased
• Children after 6 months of age also showed signs of a disinhibited attachment (displayed clingy and overly affectionate behaviour towards strangers)
• Those adopted before 6 months rarely display a disinhibited attachment
• Rutter concluded that institutionalisation can result in long term intellectual, physical and emotional impairments
• Long term consequences less severe if child adopted at an early age

Question 4

What are the effects of institutionalisation?

Answer 4

• Delayed intellectual and language development (difficulties keeping up in school)
• Delayed or stunted physical development (from undernourishment)
• Deficits in the regulation of emotion (causes temper tantrums)
• Disinhibited attachment (displays clingy and overly affectionate behaviour towards strangers)
• Poor internal working model (difficulties interacting with peers, forming close relationships and becoming a good parent)

Question 5

Outline one strength of effects of institutionalisation

Answer 5

• Studied effects of institutionalisation without confounding variables
• E.g. many orphan studies before Romanian orphans were available had confounding variables of children having neglect and abuse before being institutionalised
• Strength because such factors could have confounded earlier institutionalisation studies is that any negative consequences could have been result of earlier abuse rather than institution
• Findings from Rutter more likely to produce accurate conclusions
• Adds validity

Question 6

Outline one limitation of effects of institutionalisation

Answer 6

• May not be generalisable to all institutions
• Romanian orphanages had poor standards of care (especially when forming relationships with orphans and providing high levels of intellectual stimulation)
• Limitation because unusual situational variables means that the negative effects of institutionalisation may be more pronounced in this research than in other research on other institutions
• Questions validity

Question 7

Outline final strength of effects of institutionalisation

Answer 7

• Led to practical applications (improvements in institutions)
• Orphanages now ensure only one or two people (key workers) play central role for each child
• Strength because having key worker means child more likely to be intellectually stimulated (chance to develop normal attachments and avoid disinhibited attachments)
• Adds appropriateness