ep 105 Building Family Connections
René Spitz’s Observational Studies (1940s): René Spitz was a psychoanalyst who studied infants in orphanages and hospitals. He observed that children who lacked maternal care or consistent adult attention developed what he called “anaclitic depression,” showing signs of developmental delays, emotional withdrawal, and increased mortality. His work highlighted the psychological harm caused by emotional neglect, as many infants in orphanages during this period received minimal affection, and caregivers often focused solely on physical needs.
Harry Harlow’s Experiments with Rhesus Monkeys (1950s): Although not directly on humans, Harlow’s work with rhesus monkeys profoundly impacted how we understand attachment. Harlow found that young monkeys preferred soft, comforting "mothers" over wire ones that only provided food. This work suggested that emotional bonds and comfort are vital to development, reinforcing the importance of nurturing environments for infants and challenging the practice in orphanages where emotional support was often overlooked.
Romanian Orphanage Studies (1990s): In the 1990s, psychologists and researchers began studying children in Romanian orphanages who had been raised in extremely deprived conditions. These studies found that children raised without consistent caregivers and social interaction had severe cognitive, emotional, and physical delays. Many children experienced attachment disorders, struggled with emotional regulation, and had long-term developmental impacts.