Romanian Orphan Studies

• Some context

  Romania’s orphan problem began under the communist rule of Nicolae Ceausescu who banned abortion and denied access to contraception at a time of severe food and energy shortages. 

  Many Romanians abandoned their newborn children, leaving thousands to suffer at under-funded, state-run orphanages.
• What is an institution?

  An institution is a place where people live for a long time (they do not go home in the evening) for example orphanages.

  In Romania, the Ceaușescu regime aimed to increase the population by not allowing abortion or contraception. Many families could not look after their children so they were placed in orphanages where there was very little physical or emotional care and no cognitive stimulation.

  When the regime collapsed in 1989 these children were found and many were adopted outside Romania i.e. in the UK, France and Canada.
• Why study institutions like orphanages? 

  Bowlby’s theories of maternal deprivation would predict that institutional care will have permanent and irreversible effects on the psychological well being of the children

  Prolonged emotional deprivation can not be manipulated for ethical reasons, so we look to history at the Romanian orphans.
• Romanian institutions

  • Orphanages lacked both medicines and washing facilities
  • Children were subject to sexual and physical abuse
  • Bedrooms were infested with fleas and rats
  • Rain would often come through the roof
  • At 18 most orphans would be kicked out onto the street to fend for themselves
• AO1 - Rutter et al. (2011)

  A longitudinal study of the children adopted in the 1990’s to see how they have developed.

  • 165 Romanian children (previously lived in institutions) of these 111 adopted before the age of 2 and 54 adopted by the age of 4.
  • They were compared to 52 British children adopted by the age of 6 months.

  The children were tested regularly for physical, social and cognitive development at the ages of 4, 6, 11, 15
• Rutter et al. (2011)

  Findings 

  At the time of adoption, the Romanian children were behind the British children in all three aspects. Cognitively they were classified as mentally retarded.  

  By 4, most of the Romanian children who had been adopted before 6 months had caught up with the British children.

  Many of the children adopted after the age of 6 months showed disinhibited attachment* and had difficulties with peer relationships.
• What is one effect of institutionalization on physical development in children?


  Children in institutional care are usually small due to lack of emotional care.
• What is deprivation dwarfism?


  It is a condition caused by lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment.
• How does emotional deprivation affect cognitive development?


  Emotional deprivation negatively impacts cognitive development.
• What is disinhibited attachment?


  It is a form of insecure attachment characterized by inappropriate familiarity with strangers.
• What behaviors might indicate disinhibited attachment in children?


  Children may exhibit over-friendliness and attention-seeking behavior towards strangers.
• What did Harlow's research on monkeys demonstrate about parenting?


  Monkeys raised with a surrogate mother became poor parents themselves.
• What are the four effects of institutionalization on children?


  • Physically underdevelopment: Children are usually small due to lack of emotional care.
  • Intellectual underfunctioning: Cognitive development is affected by emotional deprivation.
  • Disinhibited attachment: Insecure attachment leads to inappropriate familiarity with strangers.
  • Poor parenting: Monkeys raised with surrogate mothers become poor parents.