Romanian Orphans And Institutionalisation

Question 1

What is institutionalisation

Answer 1

When you grow up in an institution WITHOUT any CAREGIVER, and in very POOr conditions.

• ***similarity with mat dep= both include seperation from primary/ mother figure.

Question 2

Whatis background of romania?

Answer 2

• romania was a communist country until 1989 when government was OVERTHROWN.
• abortion and contraception was FORBIDDEN

-increase in children= increased no of abandoned children in orphanages.

• orphanage conditions DECLINED in attempt to save money, which led to neglect and physical/ sexual abuse.

Question 3

What are two pieces of research conducted on romanian orphans?

Answer 3

Zeanah et al
Rutter et al

Question 4

Rutter et al?

Answer 4

Observed romanian orphans who migrated to the UK

• those adopted AFTER 6 months showed signs of disinhibited attachment
• those adopted 6 months or younger had a mean IQ of 102
• adopted between 6 months-2.5 years=-130.357 weeks IQ of 86
• adopted AFTER 2= IQ of 77

Question 5

Zeanah et al

Answer 5

Observed romanian orphans who migrated to canada

-19% of institutionalised children showed SECURE attachment

-65% classified as having DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT

Question 6

What are three effects of institutionalisation?

Answer 6

• disinhibited attachment
• poor intellectual development
• physical underdevelopment effect

Question 7

What causes the physical underdevelopment effect?

Answer 7

• children who have experienced lack of emotional care may show physical underdevelopment.
• eg, children are PHYSICALLY smaller and research has shown it is due to a Lack of EMOTIONAL care rather than poor nourishment.
• the PRODUCTION OF growth hormones is affected by severe emotional disturbance causing this underdevelopment.

Question 8

What is evidence supporting the physical underdevelopment effect?

Answer 8

LA MERE ET AL
- conducted a LONGITUDINAL study of 36 romanian orphans ADOPTED by families in CANADA.

• found that adopted orphans were PHYSICALLY smaller than the CONTROL group at 4.5 years.
• BUT this difference disappeared by 10.5 years (after theyre cared for)

Question 9

What is. Strength of romanian orphans studies?

Answer 9

P- practical application

E- orphanages and children’s care homes now AVOID having LARGE numbers of caregivers and try to ensure that EACH child is assigned a key workerx

L- this is a strength as it helps to avoid disinhibited attachment and allows healthy emotional development of orphans.

Question 10

What is a weakness of romanian orphans studies?

Answer 10

P- it is not generalisable

E- the conditions in romanian orphanages were SO extreme that it is possible that the results cannot be applied to children in other types of institutional care.

E- eg, children in romanian orphanages were extremely MALNOURISHED, abused and underfed. This led to underdeveloped emotion and physical growth. Furthermore the orphanages had significantly poor hygeine.

L- this is a weakness as findings of romanian orphanages studies cannot be applied to the general population so lack EXTERNAL VALIDITY.