PSYC1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Postpartum Depression, Cortisol
19 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Importance of early environment
Impoverished early environments
Monkey experiments - Harlow
• Effects of total social isolation for varying periods of early life
• Used wire and cloth mother surrogates for baby monkeys
• Severity of behavioural disruption depends on duration of isolation and age at which it begins
• Results - the longer the isolation the less likelihood of proper recovery
Orphanages, Goldfarb 1945, English/Romanian adoption study
Goldfarb
• Children in almost complete isolation, nurses provide little nurture
• Looked at effects of psychological deprivation in infancy and subsequent stimulation
• Compared early with late placement of children in foster homes
• Early placement kids showed higher mean IQ
• When institutional effects go on for 3 years of more, the effects are long lasting and probably
irreversible
• Noted the greater the age of adoption the lower the eventual IQ attained
English/Romanian
• Examined recovery in orphans following removal from impoverished circumstances
• Will help determine if initial deficits/retardation caused by early impoverishment
• Exp group = 11 children from Romania adopted into English families <2 yo
• Contast group = 52 adoptees from within England
• Both groups assessed at 4 yo
• Rutter et al compared children adopted by UK fam after spending
o <6 months in Romanian institution
o 6-24 months in Romanian instit.
o <6months in UK institution
• Measures
o Physical - height, weight, head circumference
o Cognitive/developmental
• Results
o Catch up greatest for those adopted before 6 months
o Head circumference deficits persisted at 6yrs
o Cognitive impairment in 15% of romanian adoptees compared with 2% UK adoptees
o Kids who spent first period of life in deprived environments suffer lasting cognitive and
social/emotional deficits
o Deficits can be overcome by move to stimulating/enriched environment
o Impact of deprivation depends on time spent in the situation
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Monkey experiments - harlow: effects of total social isolation for varying periods of early life, used wire and cloth mother surrogates for baby monkeys, results - the longer the isolation the less likelihood of proper recovery. Severity of behavioural disruption depends on duration of isolation and age at which it begins. Impact of deprivation depends on time spent in the situation. Field 2010, halligan et al 2004: pnd estimated between 20-40% mothers, mothers more irritable and hostile, less engaged, exhibit less emotion and warmth. Linked effects of maternal pnd on child -> behavioural problems, cognitive delays, healthy problems: at 13yo children from pnd mothers during infancy had increased cortisol levels and stress hormone predictive of anxiety disorders. Class differences: heckman 2006, early environment differences across ses lines affects every area of development: cognitive, social, emotional. Lower ses children behind when enter school and does not improve. Head start 1964: children at risk given special early ed programs, goals.
