Podcast Summary
Impact of Early Childhood Experiences on Development: Studies on Romanian orphans reveal that children adopted before 6 months have normal development, while those adopted after 6 months show signs of delayed intellectual development and disinhibited attachment.
The experiences children have during their early years in institutions can have significant and lasting impacts on their development. A study by Rutter et al. (2011) on Romanian orphans found that those who were adopted after the age of 6 months showed signs of delayed intellectual development and disinhibited attachment, meaning they were equally friendly and affectionate towards strangers and familiar people. This was less common in children adopted before the age of 6 months. The study also revealed that those who were adopted before 6 months had a mean IQ similar to that of the control group, while those adopted after 2 years had a significantly lower mean IQ. These findings support the idea that there is a sensitive period for attachment formation, and failure to form an attachment before the age of 6 months and after the age of 2 years can result in long-term effects. Another study by Zenna Etaugh (2005) found that only 19% of institutionalized Romanian children were securely attached, compared to 74% of the control group. Forty-four percent of the institutionalized group showed characteristics of disinhibited attachment, compared to 20% of the control group. These findings underscore the importance of early childhood experiences and the potential negative effects of institutionalization on children's development.
Study on Romanian orphans highlights improvements in institutional care: The Romanian orphan study showed that reducing caregivers per child and promoting normal attachments led to improvements in institutional care, but long-term effects on adult development remain unclear.
The Romanian orphan study stands out due to its real-world application and fewer confounding variables. The findings have led to improvements in institutional care by reducing the number of caregivers per child and promoting normal attachments. This study's strengths lie in observing the effects of institutionalization in isolation, unlike previous research. However, a potential limitation is the lack of long-term data on adult development, making it unclear if children suffered permanent effects. The most significant findings, such as the impact on romantic and parenting relationships, are yet to be discovered.
