Institutionalisation

• institutionalisation


  term for effect of living in an institutional setting. Institution being like a hospital/ orphanage where children live for long continuous periods of time. Often little emotional care. they affect children's attachment and subsequent development
• disinhibited attachment

  the effect of spending time in an institution. They are equally friendly and affectionate towards people they know as well as strangers. This is unusual as most children at 2 show stranger anxiety. Rutter explained this as an adaptation to living with multiple caregivers during the sensitive period.
• mental retardation


  low IQ . Like emotional development, damage to intellectual development as a result of institutionalisation can be recovered provided adoption takes place before the age of 6 moths
• Rutter's ERA(English and Romanian Adoptee) study


  see how they have developed and to what extent good care can make up for poor early experiences in institutions.

  165 children, all had suffered from the effects of institutionalisation that were adopted in Britain.

  Their cognitive, physical and emotional development were tested regularly at the ages of 4,6,11 and 15.

  When first adopted all Romanian children were behind British children emotionally, physically and cognitively. They showed signs of mental retardation and were malnourished. The earlier they were adopted the quicker they caught up with UK children. If adopted before 6 months they had an IQ of 102, if between 6 months and 2 years their IQ was 86 and if adopted after 2 years their IQ was 77. Orphans adopted after 6 months were more likely to show attachment disorder and have peer relationship problems , in particular a disinhibited attachment)
• The Bucharest Early Intervention Project-

  Procedure


  95 children aged 12-31 months who spent most of their lives in institutionalised care were assessed. They were compared to a control group of 50 children who had never spent time in institutionalised care. The strange situation procedure was used and carers were asked questions on unusual social behaviour i.e. cling attention seeking behaviours directed inappropriately towards an adult (disinhibited attachment) . 74% of control group are securely attached compared to 19% of institutional group
• Romanian orphan studies evaluation


  +application as more understanding so improve care in institutions

  +few extraneous variables in orphan studies as orphans abandoned at birth so all they do is due to the institution rather than neglect and abuse before being institutionalised

  -can't be generalised all institutions are different and Romanian ones were particularly bad

  -long term effect are not shown. they may catch up when adults