Outline and evaluate research into the effects of institutionalisation.

Psychologists have studied children who have lived in institutions such as orphanages.

AO1 - romaninan orphanage children 111 - 2 years old, others 4 years old, control 52 British children, longitudinal study, reg intervals of examination of development

Rutter and Songua-barke conducted a longitudinal study of 165 children who had spent their early years in a Romanian orphanage. 111 of these children were adopted before 2 years old and the others were adopted by 4 years old

they were compared to a control group of 52 British children. the social, cognitive and physical development of all infants was examined at regular intervals

AO1 - delayed development, mentally retarded, before 6 months caught up, after 6 months showed significant deficits, difficulty with peer relationships, in comparison to British control group

before adoption, the Romanian orphans showed delayed development and were physically smaller with many as classified as ‘mentally retarded’

almost all Romanian orphans who were adopted before the ages of 6 months caught up to these measures of development, when compared to the British control group

The Romanian children adopted after 6 months continued to show significant deficits in all areas of development'; they were also more likely to experience difficulties with peer relationships and often had disinhibited attachments (lack of control)

AO3 - strength - real world application, singer et al states…, benefit lives of children

One strength of Rutter and Songua-barkes research findings is their real world application to social services. Their study helped change the way that children are looked after, especially when it comes to the adoption process.

Historically, mothers were encouraged to keep their babies for a substantial period by which time the critical period for attachment formation may had passed.

nowadays, infants are adopted as early as one week old and singer et al states that children are as securely attached to their adoptive mothers as biologically related families 1985.

this demonstrates the benefit of institutionalisation research to help improve the lives of children.

AO3 - another strength

Another strength of Rutter and Songua-Barkes research is that it was longitudinal. Their research took place over many years allowing them to assess both the short term and the long term effects of institutionalisation and subsequent benefits from their adoption

therefore, the results of their research appear to be a valid representation of the effects of being placed in institutional care as well as portraying the results of receiving quality follow on emotional caregiving in a timely manner

AO3 - criticism

A criticism of the Romanian orphan research is that the deprivation is only one factor in development. The orphans experienced very little to no mental stimulation and were often malnourished. This suggests that there are multiple risk factors involved in ascertaining the effects of institutional care.

furthermore, Romanian orphan studies suggest that an infants life chances are determined by their early experiences. however, not all infants in institutional care experience the same negative effects which highlights the importance of an ideographic approach within the research.

Consequently, it is difficult to interpret the results of longitudinal studies as the sole effect of deprivation, as there are many different influences that affected these children, such as living in poverty which are not folly considered in such studies.