The Problem
Children raised in orphan care, such as the foster care system or orphanages, are exposed to very stressful living conditions that cause the amygdala to become overactive. At the same time, the development of the frontal lobe is hindered. This makes it increasingly difficult for these children to learn how to access higher-level thinking abilities. Essentially they become stuck in the "Fear brain" where emotions and feelings rule them and cannot handle everyday stressors with tranquility.
The Negative Impact of Institutional Care on the Cognitive Development of Orphaned Children
When Children are raised in institutional care such as orphanages or foster care systems, their brain development is negatively impacted, primarily the development of the amygdala, which controls fear responses, versus the frontal lobe, which controls higher-level thinking. I have had many experiences in this for my whole life because I have three adopted siblings, two of whom grew up in orphan care in Uganda and one who was placed in a foster home. Since Orphanages have many children to care for, they often fail to meet children's emotional and even biological needs, which are crucial for their cognitive development in their initial years of life. The foster care system in the US is highly flawed, with many children bouncing around from home to home. Orphan care deprives babies and children of the need for a primary caregiver, which is essential for their brain development. Altogether, children raised in institutional care become stuck in their fear response or lower-level thinking response to everyday stressors in adult life and struggle to form trust-based relationships. The Orphan crisis is a problem throughout the whole world, with 153 million orphaned children and many countries not even being able to provide basic care.
The constant stress of unmet needs causes the amygdala, which controls emotional and fear responses, to become overactive. This hinders the development of the frontal lobe, which controls higher-level thinking and managing emotions. Altogether, children who are raised in institutional care, exposed to constant stress, become stuck in their emotional and fearful responses to everyday stressors and cannot reach the higher level of thinking that is required for functional operating in young adult and adult life while also having great difficulty forming trust-based relationships.
Sustainable Development Goals
"The 17 Goals." Unites Nations, sdgs.un.org/goals.
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Good Health and Well-Being
"Ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages"
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Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
"Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
