Privation

Privation

1. Hodges & Tizard (1989) followed 65 British children from early life to adolescence - placed in institution when less than 4 months old and had not yet formed attachments. - explicit policy against the 'caretakers' forming attachments with children

   • early on 70% were described as not able to 'care deeply about anyone' thus conclude they had experienced early emotional privation
   • assessed regular intervals up to ages 16- some remained in institution , most had left & had either been adopted or restored to their original families
   • 'restored' children less likely to have formed attachments with their mother, adopted children were as closely attached to their parents as control group of 'normal' children
   • both groups had problems with peers- less likely to have a special friend & less likely to be liked by other children

2. The Czech Twins- KOLUCHOVA 1976 - spent 1st 7 years of their lives locked up by step-mother, unable to talk. later cared for by two loving sisters & by age of 14 near normal intellecual & social functioning = age 20 were above average intelligence & excellent relationships with members of foster family

   • 1.) discovered at young enough age & therefore could recover 2.) may have formed important attachment to each other therefore difficult to reach any firm conculsions

3. Evaluation

   • Quentin et al (1984) compared group 0f 50 women reared in institutions with a control group reared at home- when in their 20's found that the ex-institutional women were experiencing extreme difficulties acting as parents
   • cannot be certain that the children studied had failed to form attachments e.g. in hodges & Tizard's study children may have formed attachments & that later problems were due to other factors such as feelings of rejection
   • Turner & Lloyd (1995) damage only occurs the there are multiple risk factors such as privation followed by poor subsequent care, or insecure attachment with easy separations & parental disharmony

4. Rutter et al (2007) 100 Romanian orphan assessed ay 4 , 6 and 11 years old

   • those adopted by British families before 6 months old shown 'normal' emotional development but those adopted after 6 months showed disinhibited attachments & problems with peers
     • suggests long-term consequences may be less severe than thought if children have the opportunity to form attachments