Effects of Institutionalisation and Evaluation
The Romanian orphan studies have revealed several significant effects of institutionalisation psychology, particularly in the areas of attachment and cognitive development.
Disinhibited attachment is a notable effect of spending time in an institution. Children with this attachment pattern are equally affectionate towards people they know and strangers, which is unusual as most children typically show stranger anxiety at this age. This behavior could be attributed to the experience of being cared for by multiple caregivers, none of whom they formed a secure attachment with.
Definition: Stranger anxiety is a normal developmental stage where infants and young children become fearful of unfamiliar people.
Mental retardation was another observed effect, with many children showing signs of cognitive delays upon arrival in Britain. However, a crucial finding was that those adopted before 6 months of age caught up with the control group by age 4. This suggests that damage to intellectual development due to institutionalization can be recovered if adoption occurs before the critical period of attachment formation at around 6 months.
Highlight: The Romanian orphan study evaluation indicates that early intervention, particularly before 6 months of age, can significantly mitigate the negative effects of institutionalization.
These studies have significant real-life applications, enhancing our understanding of the effects of institutionalisation Romanian orphans and influencing childcare practices. As a result, orphanages and children's homes now aim to have only a couple of carers per child, promoting more stable and nurturing relationships.
However, it's important to note some limitations of these studies. The conditions in Romanian orphanages were exceptionally poor, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, other orphan studies often involve children who experienced loss or trauma before institutionalization, making it challenging to isolate the effects of institutionalization alone.
Example: The Rutter Romanian orphan study is considered more controlled than other orphan studies due to fewer extraneous variables.
Ethical considerations are also crucial when evaluating these studies. In the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, for instance, Romanian orphans were randomly allocated to institutional care or fostering, raising questions about the ethics of such experimental designs in vulnerable populations.
Lastly, it's important to note that the long-term effects of institutionalization are not yet fully clear. More time and research are needed to determine whether the observed effects are short-term or persist into adulthood.
Quote: "It's too soon to say whether the children suffered short or long-term effects," highlighting the need for continued longitudinal research in this area.
