Attachment: Effects of Institutionalisation

A01

Rutter - Romanian orphanage- children malnourished and had delayed intellectual development.

Longitudinal and natural study

165 Romanian orphans adopted by British families to see the effect of good care on those with poor early experiences of institutionalisation.

Development assessed at ages 4, 6, 11, 15.

Control group of 52 British adoptees assumed to have better early experiences of care.

11 y/o: under 6 months had IQ of 102 whereas 6-24 months had 86, and over 24 months had 77. Differences remained at age 16.

Mental retaration can be reversed for under 6 months olds after adoption.

After 6 months showed disinhibited attachment. Overly friendly to strangers, clingy, no difference in interactions and behaviours to familar…