Romanian Orphan studies Flashcards
(15 cards)
Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010)
Studied 165 Romanian orphans who spent their early lives in Romanian institutions. Of these, 111 were adopted before the age of 2 and 54 by the age of 4.
Procedure of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010)
Adoptees were tested at regular intervals to assess physical, cognitive, and social development, and compared to a control group of 52 British children adopted in the UK before the age of 6 months.
Findings of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010)
Romanian orphans lagged behind the British adoptees on all measures of development. By the age of 4, some of the children caught up with their British counterparts, particularly those adopted before the age of 6 months.
Follow-up Findings of Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010)
Confirmed that the significant deficits (disinhibited attachments and problems with peer relationships) remained in individuals who experienced institutional care beyond the age of 6 months.
4 key effects of institutionalisation
1) Physical underdevelopment: Lack of nourishment and emotional care leads to deprivation dwarfism. 2) Intellectual underfunctioning: Emotional deprivation affects cognitive development. 3) Disinhibited attachment: A form of attachment where children treat near-strangers with overfriendliness. 4) Poor parenting: Women raised in institutions experience difficulties acting as parents compared to women raised at home (Quinton et al, 1984).
Physical underdevelopment (Key Effect of Institutionalisation)
The lack of nourishment and emotional care can lead to deprivation dwarfism.
Intellectual underfunctioning (Key Effect of Institutionalisation)
Emotional deprivation can affect cognitive development.
Disinhibited attachment (Key Effect of Institutionalisation)
A form of attachment where children treat near-strangers with overfriendliness.
Poor parenting (Key Effect of Institutionalisation)
Research has found (Quinton et al, 1984) that women raised in institutions experience difficulties acting as parents, compared to women raised at home.
One criticism of institutionalisation research: individual differences play an important role
E: Although some research suggests that individuals who do not form an attachment within the sensitive period are unable to recover, this is not true of all children. E: Some children are not strongly affected by institutionalisation, and Rutter suggested that some children in institutions might receive special attention, possibly because they smiled more and had some type of attachment experience. L: This suggests that the findings of institutionalisation research are not universal, and some children can recover from the negative effects of institutionalisation.
A strength of institutionalisation research is the value of longitudinal studies
E: Longitudinal studies take a lot of time and planning; however, the benefits are large. E: Longitudinal studies allow researchers to assess the long-term effect of institutionalisation and whether the effects may disappear after sufficient time with suitable high-quality care. L: This suggests that the findings of longitudinal studies are a valid representation of the effect of institutionalisation.
One criticism of the Romanian orphan studies is that deprivation is only one factor
E: The Romanian orphans were faced with much more than emotional deprivation. Their physical conditions were appalling, which may have also impacted their health. E: The lack of cognitive stimulation may have also affected their cognitive development. L: This suggests that researchers should be cautious when interpreting the effects of Romanian orphan studies, as there are many factors that could have affected the orphan’s development.
A strength of institutionalisation research is the application of it to improving children’s lives
E: The research of Bowlby changed the way children were looked after so that much more focus was given when children were hospitalised. E: Furthermore, the process of adoption has changed so that mothers who give a baby up for adoption do so within the first week of birth, so that children can form a secure attachment with their adoptive families. L: This highlights the benefit of institutionalisation research to improving the lives of children in different ways.
What AO3 strengths are you using for institutionalisation research?
1) Value of longitudinal studies. 2) The application of it to improving children’s lives.
What AO3 critiques are you using for institutionalisation research?
1) Individual differences of children may play an important role. 2) Deprivation is only one factor.
