PAPER 1 - ATTACHMENT - effects of institutionalisation

Question 1

what was the aim of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 1

investigating the effects of institutionalisation

Question 2

what was the procedure of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 2

• 165 Romanian children in institutions during early years
• 111 were adopted before age 2, 54 adopted by age 4
• physical, cognitive and social development was tested at 4,6,11 &15
• they were compared to 54 English children adopted within the UK before age 6 months

Question 3

what were the findings of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 3

• Romanian orphans were smaller, weighed less, classified as mentally retarded at age 2
• by age 4, some had caught up with the English children
• those adopted after 6 months had deficits
• long term effects not as severe if adopted before 6 months

Question 4

what were some of the deficits the Romanian orphans struggled with if they weren’t adopted before 6 months?

Answer 4

disinhibited attachment
problems with peer relationships

Question 5

what is the definition of disinhibited attachment disorder (DAD)?

Answer 5

a child does snot discriminate between anyone seeking an attachment figure so may display over-friendliness and attantion seeking behaviours

Question 6

what were the conclusions of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 6

• the negative effects of institutionalisation may disappear over time
• age 11, fewer children has disinhibited attachment
• long term consequences werent as severe if children had opportunity for attachments

Question 7

what were some criticisms of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 7

• individual differences - some children weren’t affected as strongly
• confounding variables inevitable
• effects may be due to slower development - not permanent - age 11, fewer DAD

Question 8

what were some strengths of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke’s study?

Answer 8

• real life application - can be applied to improve lives of children placed in care
• longitudinal study - followed lives of children over many years
• ecological validity

Question 9

what is physical underdevelopment?

Answer 9

children in care are often physically smaller
- research has shown that lack of emotional care, rather than poor nourishment, can lead to deprivation dwarfism

Question 10

what is intellectual under functioning?

Answer 10

cognitive functioning can also be affected e.g. Skodak & Skeels found children in institutions score poorly on IQ tests, when moved to another setting, IQ scores improved

Question 11

what is poor parenting?

Answer 11

Quinton et al studied 50 ex-institution women compared to 50 controls - found ex-institution women struggled to parent and more likely to have children who also go into care

Question 12

what is privation?

Answer 12

when no attachment is formed

Question 13

what is deprivation?

Answer 13

attachment is formed but broke