Roman Orphan Studies: Effects of Institutionalisation

• (AO1) Link Romania in the 1990s to institutionalisation

  During the 1990s, the unveiling of political events in Romania allowed psychologists to study the effects of institutionalisation.

  
  

  The Western world became aware that record numbers of children had been placed in orphanages as parents could not cope with the strict government rules e.g. abortions were banned, and couples were required to birth large numbers of children in a bid to boost the population and economy.

  
  

  At the end of 30 year regime, more than 100,000 children were reported to be in 600 state-operated orphanages
• (AO1) Give the aim of Rutter et al (2010) ERA study

  Aim = to examine in the long - term effects of institutionalisation in a longitudinal study, beginning in the early 1990s called the ERA (English and Romanian Adoptees)
• (AO1) Give the method of Rutter et al (2010) ERA study

  Method = 165 children, who has spent their early years in a Romanian orphanage formed the experimental group. 111 were adopted before 7, and the remaining 54 were adopted by the age of 4.

  
  

  They were compared to a control group of 52 British children, who were adopted before 5 months old.

  
  

  The social, cognitive and physical development of all were examined at regular intervals (age 4,5,11,15) and interviews were conducted with adoptive parents and teachers.
• (AO1) Give the results of Rutter et al (2010) ERA study 


  Results = At the point of adoption, Romanian orphans showed delayed development of social, cognitive and physical progress.

  • Physically smaller, weighed less on average
  • Delayed/slow learning
  • Almost all the Romanian orphans adopted before 5 months caught up on development compared to British control group.
  • The Romanian children adopted after 5 months continued showing significant deficits (social, cognitive and physical). More likely to experience difficulties with making/maintaining peer relationships.
• (AO1) What were the Romanian infant who were older than 5 months often categorised as having?

  Disinhibited attachment disorder = when an infant has never formed an attachment, never shown stranger anxiety, but craves attachment, can sooth themselves, over clingy)

  This resulted from privation
• (AO1) Give the conclusion of Rutter et al (2010) ERA study

  Institutionalisation can have severe long - term effects on development, especially if children are not provided with adequate emotional caregiving i.e adopted by 2 years old.
• (AO3) Give a strength of effects of institutionalisation

  Point: Research support

  
  

  Evidence: Garner (1972) Showed that children who have experienced a lack of emotional care may show physical underdevelopment, affecting their production hormones. (deprivation dwarfism) In addition, Skodak and Skeels (1949) discovered that cognitive development is affected by institutionalisation, since when transferred to institution with better emotional care, IQ scores improved by nearly 30 points.

  
  

  Evaluate: The research support adds to the credibility and reliability of Rutter's research.
• (AO3) Give a strength of effects of institutionalisation

  Point: Rutter = longitudinal study

  
  

  Evidence: Research took place over many years, allowing them to assess both the short - term and long - term effects of institutionalisation & subsequent benefits from adoption.

  
  

  Evaluate: Results appear to be a valid representation of the effects of being placed in institutional care.
• (AO3) Give a limitation of effects of institutionalisation

  Point: Issues with generalisation

  
  

  Evidence: Since the conditions of care were so dire for the Romanian orphans, they cannot be considered typical. Therefore, the result obtained do not represent all situations were children are placed in care and experience deprivation.

  
  

  Evaluate: Lack of external validity due to the unusual situational variables of the harsh political regimes at the time.