15

Can court decisions to institutionalize mistreated or neglected babies be beneficial or do such decisions always result in deprivation? This paper addresses this question using concepts from theoretical neuroscience, developmental psychology, and psychoanalysis. It studies the effects of institutionalization on the development of infants who have suffered from neglect or family-related early deprivation. Clinical and statistical results confirm that the vast majority of infants from the sample population improved their relational skills, their capacity for interaction, and their development. These results also suggest it is necessary to conduct other longitudinal studies in order to validate long-term effects of institutionalization and its impact on child development.