Romanian Orphanages

Question 1

Background info

Answer 1

• after ww2 Romanian population shrunk
• policies in place to increase population- ban abortions
• 100K children orphaned

Question 2

Rutter A + M

Answer 2

A- assess whether loving and nurturing aftercare could reverse effect of institutionalisation the children suffered in Romanian orphanages
M- longtitutional, 165, adopted in Britain, physical, cognitive, emotional development assessed at 4,6,11,15 yrs, compared to control group- British children adopted at same time

Question 3

Rutter RESULTS

Answer 3

1). Disinhibited attachment= equally friendly and affectionate towards people they know well + strangers
2). Mental disability= most low IQ’s, adopted before 6mths= caught up w controls by 4yrs. Damage to intellectual development but can recover if adopted before 6 months
3). Physical underdevelopment= lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment- ‘deprivation dwarfism’

Question 4

Rutter conclusions

Answer 4

Rates of recovery related to age of adoption
- younger than 6 months- developed normally in line with British adopted
- older than 6 months- disinhibited attachment + problems forming peer relationships
Suggests effects of privation can be overcome if attachment formed within 6 months, after= neg effects permentant

Question 5

How does Rutter support bowlby ?

Answer 5

Critical period

Question 6

How does Hodges and Tizard support Rutter?

Answer 6

Institutionalisation care has long lasting negative effects however development of close ttachment possible with loving care by adoptive parents

Question 7

How does Bucharest early intervention project support Rutter?

Answer 7

Adds to idea that without attachment made there will be consequences on development

Question 8

Strength

Answer 8

1). Real world app- enhanced understanding of institutionalisation, led to intro of key workers

Question 9

Limitations

Answer 9

1). Ungen- not typical, conditions so bad
2). Lack of adult data- too soon to say whether children suffered short or long term, can’t draw conclusions about long term effects
3). Confounding variables- before romaincinac orphan research- research using children orphaned during war, experience levels of trauma, H- children mainly handed over by loving parents who couldn’t afford to keep, may have been fewer confounding variables