institutionalism

• how can the effects of deprivation be studied?

  experience of orphans
• give examples of institutional settings

  orphanage or children's home
• outline the historical context of orphanages

  harsh laws by communist Ceauşescu

  • banned contraception and abortion
  • orphanages were unveiled to the wider world
• who studied a group of romanian orphans as part of the ERA study?

  Rutter et al in 2010
• outline the procedure of Rutter et al's orphan study

  • 165 romanian children who were institutionalised
  • assessed at 4, 6, 11 and 15 years old to measure cognitive, social and emotional development
  • interviews conducted with teachers and adoptive parents
  • compared to control group of 52 british adoptees
• explain the findings of Rutter et al's study

  • romanian orphans underperformed on all measures
  • children adopted before 6 months developed normal attachment and had IQ of 102
  • adopted after 6 months showed disinhibited attachment and IQ of 86
  • children adopted after 2 years had an IQ of 77
• who studied a group of romanian orphans in the BEI project?

  Zeanah et al in 2005
• outline the procedure of Zeanah et al's study

  • 95 romanian orphans aged 12 to 31 months
  • control group of 50 children who never lived in institution
  • strange situation measured attachment
  • assessed feedback from caregivers
  • measures disinhibited attachment
• explain the findings of Zeanah et al's study

  • 74% of the control group were securely attached
  • 19% of romanian children were securely attached
  • 65% had disorganised attachment
  • 44% had disinhibited attachment compared to less than 20% in control group
• weakness - other factors

  • individual differences
  • Rutter - children adopted after 6 months still developed secure attachments
  • children can be biologically or psychologically resilient to effects
• strength - methodological

  • longitudinal studies
  • research is valid and reliance
  • importance of early attachment formation
• strength - relevance

  • real-world application
  • influenced policies regarding adoption and orphanage
  • minimise negative effects of institutionalisation