Rutter’s study

• Rutter studied a mixture of deprivation and privation with a natural and longitudinal experiment.
• Rutter investigated effects of early deprivation on long term development and recovery.
• Rutter studied 165 Romanian orphans that entered the UK between 0-42 months compared to 52 non-deprived children adopted within the UK before 6 months.
• Children involved in Rutter’s study were assessed at ages 4, 6, 11 and 15 along with parent and teacher interviews
• Upon arriving to the UK, Romanian orphans showed signs of intellectual disability - 68 IQ
• If an orphan was adopted before 6 months, the development was rapid with a mean IQ of 102, and 60%. developed secure attachment.
• If an orphan was adopted after 6 months, they would have trouble forming attachments, with poor mental and social functioning, with a mean IQ of 86. One third needed educational or psychological support.
• Rutter’s overall results:

  Privation and deprivation can be reversed if an attachment starts to form before 6 months

  Long term effects are more permanent if attachment doesn’t occur before 6 months