Romanian Orphan Studies

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Institutionalisation
The effects of spending significant time in an orphanage or children's home.
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The ERA study (procedure)
Longitudinal study of the cognitive and social development of orphans adopted in England.
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The ERA study (findings)
Some attachment problems and lower average IQ in those adopted late.
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Bucharest Early Intervention project (procedure)
Longitudinal study of the social development of orphans fostered in Romania
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Bucharest Early Intervention project (findings)
Much more insecure and disinhibited attachment in children who remained in institutions
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Effects of institutionalistaion
Disinhibited attachment (over-friendly) and mental retardation (low IQ)
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How many Orphans were in Rutter et al. (2011) English and Romanian adoptee study
165 Romanian Orphans, poor condition before being adopted in the UK
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What was the English and Romanian adoptee study used to find?
Can good care make up for poor early experiences - physical, cognitive and emotional development assessed in 4, 11 and 15
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Did the English and Romanian study follow a control group?
Yes
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What were the findings of the English and Romanian study?
Half the orphans showed signs of mental retardation when they came to the UK - At age 11 their recovery rates were related to age of adoption. Adopted before 6 months = IQ 102 Between 6-24 months = IQ 86 After 24 months = IQ 77
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What was found within the attachment of children who were adopted after 6 months?
Frequent disinhibited attachment
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What was the Bucharest Early Intervention Project?
Zeanah et al. (2005) assessed attachment in 95 12-31 month old who spent most of their loves in institutional care
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How many were in the control group in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project?
50
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What was the Bucharest Early Intervention Project measured by?
The Strange Situation and careers were asked about unusual social behaviour
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What were the findings of the Bucharest Early Intervention Project?
74 % of control group were securely attached vs. only 19% of institutional group. 65% of institutional group were classified as disorganised attachment. 44% of institutional group had disinhibited attachments vs. > 20% in control group
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Describe disinhibited attachment as an effect of institutionalisation?
Equally friendly and affectionate towards familiar people and strangers. Rutter (2006) explained that this is an adaptation to living with multiple caregivers during the sensitive period. In poor quality institutions an infant may have 50 careers
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Describe mental retardation as an effect of institutionalisation?
When adopted before 6 months children were able to catch up with the control group by age 4. Damage to intellectual development as a result of institutionalisation can be recovered if adoption takes place before the ages of 6 months.
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Real life application
Both institutional care and adoption practice have been improved due to this research
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Fewer extraneous variables
Romanian orphans had less negative influences before institutionalisation than e.g. war orphans
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Romanian Orphanages not typical
Conditions were so bad that results may not generalise to better institutions.
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Longitudinal design
Although the studies have been going for a while and the assumptions seem to be correct, it is not yet over and recovery is still possible.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The ERA study (procedure)

Back

Longitudinal study of the cognitive and social development of orphans adopted in England.

Card 3

Front

The ERA study (findings)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Bucharest Early Intervention project (procedure)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Bucharest Early Intervention project (findings)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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