Research suggests that attachment at sensitive periods in a child’s development plays a critical role in brain and psychosocial development, including IQ development.
That’s according to The Bucharest Early Intervention Project, who “studied the effects of neglect on children living in Romanian orphanages. They wanted to see if they would do better if removed from the institutions and placed in loving and secure foster families, and if there were sensitive periods in which placement was more successful. They studied IQ, brain activity, and attachment.”
They found that institutionalized children had severely delayed IQs but found that those placed in foster care before they turned two years old increased IQ over time while those placed in foster care after 24 months had fewer gains.
“Over half of the children taken out of the orphanage before 22 months formed secure attachments with foster parents when assessed at 42 months, while only 10 percent had secure attachments when placed after 22 months.”
“These results highlight the harsh effects of institutions and the importance of removing children from these harmful environments as early as possible. Placing children before age 2 in safe, loving, and responsive families increases the possibility for healthy emotional, social, and neurobiological development.”
We welcome questions about attachment and brain development.
