Key Studies
Who conducted the English and Romanian Adoptee (ERA) study?
Rutter et al. (2011)
Define 'institutionalisation' in the context of attachment studies.
The effects of living in an institutional setting, such as a hospital or orphanage, where children may experience a lack of emotional care.
In the BEIP, what percentage of institutionalised children were securely attached?
Only 19% were securely attached
What is a strength of the ERA study regarding its real-world application?
It has led to improvements in the way children are cared for in institutions, emphasizing the importance of early adoption.
A child adopted at 5 months shows secure attachment. What would Rutter say about this?
Early adoption before 6 months often leads to typical attachment development.
Who conducted the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP)?
Zeanah et al. (2003)
What is 'disinhibited attachment'?
A type of insecure attachment where children are equally friendly and affectionate towards familiar people and strangers.
What attachment style was more common in children adopted after 6 months?
Disinhibited attachment
What methodological strength does the longitudinal nature of the ERA study provide?
It allows researchers to observe long-term effects of institutionalisation and adoption.
A child in school is withdrawn, struggles with emotions, and was adopted at 3 years old. Which study does this support and why?
Supports the ERA study — later adoption is linked with longer-lasting emotional and social problems.
What was the main aim of the ERA study?
To investigate the effects of institutionalisation and the extent to which good care could make up for poor early experiences.
Explain 'privation' in attachment theory.
The failure to form any attachment during early development.
What attachment type was more common among institutionalised children in the BEIP?
Disorganised attachment
What is a limitation of the ERA study concerning generalisability?
The study focused on Romanian orphans, who may have experienced particularly poor conditions, limiting the applicability to other contexts.
A 4-year-old shows no preference between caregivers and strangers. Which attachment type is this, and what causes it?
Disinhibited attachment, likely due to institutionalisation or inconsistent caregiving.
What was the aim of the BEIP?
To compare attachment types in institutionalised children vs. those in foster care or with biological families.
What is the difference between privation and deprivation in attachment theory?
Privation is when an attachment is never formed in the first place.
Deprivation is the loss of or damage to an existing attachment.
(Romanian orphans may have experienced privation due to neglect in institutions.)
What did Rutter’s follow-up studies reveal about the recovery of Romanian orphans over time?
Children adopted before 6 months showed continued improvement into adolescence.
Children adopted after 6 months often had persistent emotional and social difficulties
This shows that while some recovery is possible, the effects of early institutionalisation can be long-lasting.
What ethical concerns have been raised about the BEIP study?
Children were randomly assigned to remain in institutions or be fostered, which could affect their long-term well-being.
A psychologist designs a new care home program with 1 key worker per child. Which study are they drawing from and why?
The BEIP, which showed better outcomes when children had consistent caregivers
What were the three conditions of adoption in the ERA study?
Adopted before 6 months, between 6 months and 2 years, and after 2 years.
Define disorganised attachment and explain how it is measured.
Disorganised attachment is when a child shows inconsistent, contradictory behaviour (e.g. approaching a caregiver, then freezing or backing away).
It is measured using the Strange Situation and was common among institutionalised children in the BEIP study.
In Rutter’s ERA study, what long-term effects were seen in children adopted after 6 months, even into adolescence?
Persisting issues included low IQ, disinhibited attachment, and difficulties with peer relationships.
How does the ERA study address the issue of individual differences?
Not all children were equally affected by institutionalisation, suggesting that individual differences play a role in resilience.
You are evaluating an adoption policy. What would you recommend based on both Rutter and Zeanah’s research?
Encourage early adoption and avoid long-term institutionalisation; prioritize emotional care and attachment opportunities.