Romanian Orphan studies into attachment Flashcards
What did the institutionalisation and later adoption of Romanian infants allow researchers to do
the varying ages at adoption allowed researchers to conduct a natural experiment
What is institutionalisation?
The effect of spending significant time in an orphanage or children’s home
Describe the procedure of Rutter’s et al. (2011) English and Romanian adoptee study (ERA)
Researchers followed a group of 165 Romanian orphans who suffered significantly before being adopted in the UK
They used a longitudinal study,testing to what extent good care can make up for poor early experiences.
Physical, Cognitive,and Emotional development was assessed atages 4,6,11,15,22,25.
Results compared to a control group of 52 UK adoptees.
Describe the outcomes in IQ of Rutter’s et al. (2011) English and Romanian adoptee study (ERA)
Half of the orphans had delayed intellectual development when they came to the UK.
By age 11, recovery was related to the age at adoption:
Before 6 months – Mean IQ of 102.
After two years – Mean IQ of 77.
These differences remained at 16.
Describe the outcomes in attachment type of Rutter’s et al. (2011) English and Romanian adoptee study (ERA)
Frequency of disinhibited attachment type related to age at adoption:
If adopted after 6 months: clinginess, attention seeking, indiscriminate affection to strangers.
If adopted before 6 months: Rare to see disinhibited type
(Supports Bowlbys sensitive period)
Describe the procedure of Zennah’s et al. (2005) Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEI)
Used the Strange Situation to assess attachment in 95 Romanian children, aged 12-31 months who had spent most of their lives in institutional care.
Compared to a control group who had never been in institutional care.
Give outcomes of Zennah’s et al. (2005) Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEI)
Only 19% of the experimental group were securely attached. 74% of controls.
44% of the experimentalgroup had disinhibited attachment.
Describe the procedure of Gunnar’s et al. (2001) study
Investigated levels of cortisol in 18 children aged 6–12 years who had been adopted following at least eight months in a Romanian orphanage (late adoption).
Cortisol is a stress hormone, produced in response to stress.
Describe the outcomes of Gunnar’s et al. (2001) study
Cortisol levels in late-adopted children were found to be significantly higher than levels in 14 children adopted in their first four months and a control group of 15 Canadian-born children.
In the late adoption group cortisol levels correlated positively with the time spent in the Romanian orphanage.
No difference in cortisol levels was found between the early adoption group and the control group.
In conclusion, what are the effects of institutionalisation
Disinhibited attachment style - equally friendlyand affectionate with strangers and people they know well. An adaptation to multiple caregivers
Damaged intellectual development - limited development, especially prevalentthe longer the child remained in institutional care.
Evaluate Romanian orphan studies based on real world application (strength)
Results from these studies has led to significant improvements in institutional care
Childrens homes now avoid large members of caregivers for each child. Key workers.
Therefore: Children have a chance todevelop ‘normal’attachments, avoiding disinhibition.
Institutional care is also much less prevelant, fostering or adoption are seen as highly preferable.
Evaluate Romanian orphan studies based on the few confounding variables (strength)
Previous research into orphans suffered with significant CV’s, for example children who had experienced significant loss or trauma prior to being institutionalised. E.G WW2
Neglect, abuse and bereavement made it hard to observe the specific impact of institutionalisation. Most Romanian Orphans were handed over by loving parents with little prior trauma.
Therefore – in this case we can be sure that the differences observed are because of the institutionalisation (High internal validity)
Give a counter to the few confounding variables evaluation
However, There were in fact significant CV’s, they were just different to those that had made research challenging before.
The care in Romania at the time was so poor, and conditions so dire, it’s impossible to separate, institutional care from POOR institutional care.
Therefore Internal validity might not actually be as high as thought.
