Institutionalization refers to children who are raised in institutions without strong attachments to caregivers. There are three main effects of institutionalization: 1. Children may become poor parents later in life due to a lack of parental role models as institutionalized women had difficulties parenting. 2. Children can experience deprivation dwarfism where a lack of emotional care impacts hormone production and physical development as seen in the case of Genie. 3. Children are at risk of developing attachment disorders, which affects social and emotional development, as they have no preferred attachment figure. Research found these children had difficulty forming close relationships as teenagers.

1. The effects of
Institutionalisation
i.e. what happens if a child
doesn’t form an attachment
early on in life

2. Definition - Institutionalisation
This refers to the behaviour patterns of
children who have been raised in institutions
such as children’s homes.
In institutions, children may have
relationships with staff however; they may
not have one-to-one attachments.

3. The effects of institutionalisation
1. Become
Poor Parents
2. Deprivation
Dwarfism
3.
Attachment
Disorder

4. The effects of institutionalisation
1. Become poor parents
Institutionalised children may become poor
parents later in life.
Quinton et al (1984)
- Women raised in institutions had extreme
difficulties when acting as parents
Why might this be? Lack of a role model?

5. The effects of institutionalisation
1. Become poor parents
• +VE: Harlow (1960)
The monkeys raised in isolation (without a real
mother) went on to become poor mothers,
many rejected their own offspring
How/why does this support the theory?
What is the problem with Harlow’s research?

6. The effects of institutionalisation
2. Deprivation Dwarfism
Children who have a lack of emotional care may
be physically underdeveloped, as well as having
emotional problems.
The production of hormones are affected by
severe emotional disturbances which may result
in this dwarfism

7. The effects of institutionalisation
2. Deprivation Dwarfism
• +VE: Genie
Deprived of emotional care from an early age
when Genie was found she was severely
physically underdeveloped and found it difficult
to form attachments
How/why does this support the theory?
What is the problem with using this research of
Genie?

8. The effects of institutionalisation
2. Deprivation Dwarfism
• -VE: Czech Twins
Deprived of emotional care the boys were
adopted and grew to be of above average
intelligence and developed well socially and
emotionally
How/why does this criticise the theory?
What is the problem with using this research of
the Czech Twins?

9. The effects of institutionalisation
3. Attachment Disorder
A psychiatric disorder that affects a child’s social and
emotional development. There are 3 factors related
with Attachment Disorder:
• i) Children have experienced severe neglect or
frequent changes of caregiver.
• ii) They have no preferred attachment figure.
• iii) They have an inability to interact and relate to
others (this is evident before the age of 5)
Reactive (inhibited) – Shy and withdrawn
Disinhibited – over-friendly and attention seeking

10. The effects of institutionalisation
3. Attachment Disorder
• +VE: Hodges & Tizard
Found that the children from their research by
the age of 16 did not have a special friends,
were not likely to be part of a social group and
were more likely to become bullies
How/why does this support the theory?
What is the problem with using Hodges &
Tizard’s research?

11. The effects of institutionalisation
Outline and evaluate research into
the effects of institutionalisation on
child development (12 marks)