Failure to form attachment

Failure to form attachment

1. Hodges and Tizard (1989)

   • Followed a group of 65 british children
   • Been placed in an institution before they were 4 months old
   • Stayed until adolescence
   • Caretakers not allowed to form attachments
   • Not old enough to have formed attachments
   • 70% described as not able to care deeply about anyone
   • Experienced early privation
   • Assessed regularly until 16
   • Some were still in institution, some had been adopted, or restored
   • Restored children were less likely to form attachments with mothers
   • Adopted kids were as closely attached to parents as control group
   • Both groups had problems with peers
   • Less likely to have a special friend, or be liked by others
   • Sought more attention from adults
   • Early privation has negative effects on the ability to form relationships

2. Rutter et al (2007)

   • 100 Romanian orphans
   • Assessed at 4, 6 and 11
   • Adopted by British families before the age of six months
     • 'Normal' emotional development
   • Those adopted after this showered disinhibited attachments
   • Long term consequences
     • Aren't too severe if they have oppurtunity to form attachent
     • If not, consequences severe