romanian orphan

• Rutter (2011) wanted to find the effects growing up in an institution (a public environment) had on children, so he followed 165 Romanian Orphans in a longitudinal natural study. He assessed their physical, cognitive and emotional development at ages 4, 6, 11 and 15 after they had been adopted by British families. This was contrasted to a control group of 52 British children who had been adopted at the same time. 
• What developmental issues were found in Romanian orphans?

  Severe physical, cognitive, and emotional developmental issues
• How did the nutritional status of the Romanian orphans affect their IQ?

  They were undernourished and had lower mean IQs depending on the age of adoption
• What were the mean IQ scores of the Romanian orphans adopted before and after six months?

  Before six months: 102, after six months: 86
• How do the IQ scores of the Romanian orphans compare to the national average?

  Their IQ scores were much lower than the national average
• What symptoms did the Romanian orphans show related to attachment?

  Symptoms of disinhibited attachment, such as no stranger anxiety and indiscriminate behavior towards adults
• What explanation did Rutter provide for the disinhibited attachment observed in the orphans?

  It may have been an adaptation to having multiple caregivers in the institution
• What are the effects of institutionalization as highlighted by Rutter's findings on Romanian orphans?

  • Severe physical, cognitive, and emotional developmental issues
  • Undernourishment leading to lower mean IQs
  • Disinhibited attachment symptoms
  • Adaptation to multiple caregivers instead of forming specific attachments
• What is reciprocity in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Interaction where both respond to each other
• How do infants show reciprocity to caregivers?

  By responding to signals and expressions
• When do babies start showing reciprocity?

  From birth
• What do periods of alertness in babies indicate?

  They are more receptive to interaction
• How often should caregivers detect alertness signals?

  About two-thirds of the time
• What can stress and distractions cause in caregiver-infant interactions?

  Missed alertness signals
• How is the interaction between infant and caregiver described?

  As a two-way process
• What metaphor did Brazelton et al. (1975) use to describe caregiver-infant interactions?

  A 'dance' where each responds to the other
• What does the reciprocal relationship between infant and caregiver establish?

  Foundations for secure attachment
• Who devised the Still Face Experiment?

  Tronick (1972)
• What is the procedure of the Still Face Experiment?

  Caregiver interacts, then shows a still face
• What happens during the 'still face' phase of the experiment?

  Infants show confusion and distress
• What is a significant behavior change observed in infants during the Still Face Experiment?

  Loss of postural control
• What do infants do during the repair phase of the Still Face Experiment?

  They become relieved and responsive
• What does the Still Face Experiment suggest about infants?

  They seek connection with caregivers
• What is interactional synchrony?

  Mirroring actions between two people
• Why is interactional synchrony important?

  It enables secure attachment development
• What did Isabella et al. (1989) find about synchrony and attachment?

  Higher synchrony leads to secure attachment
• What was the method used by Meltzoff and Moore (1977) in their study?

  Adult model displayed facial expressions
• What did Meltzoff and Moore (1977) find about infants' ability to mirror expressions?

  Infants could mirror as young as two weeks
• What are the strengths of Meltzoff and Moore's study on interactional synchrony?

  • Filmed observations allow later analysis
  • High validity due to infants' unaware behavior
• What evidence supports Meltzoff and Moore's findings?

  • Murray and Tervarthen (1985) study
  • Infants showed distress when ignored
  • Infants actively sought caregiver attention
• What are the limitations of using infants in research?

  • Difficult to test behaviors accurately
  • Random limb movements complicate findings
  • Hard to distinguish specific actions from general behaviors
• What is a limitation of the Still Face Experiment's methodology?

  • Lacks ecological validity
  • Lab setting may exaggerate behaviors