Resource Guide on Attachment Disorders Free essay

Emotional Affection of Children

The problem of attachment disorders could not be ignored in the sphere of children upbringing. Parents should be aware of at least of basic aspects, related to attachment disorders. Attachment is generally defined as “a composite of behaviors in an infant, toddler, or young child that is designed to achieve physical and emotional closeness to a mother or preferred caregiver when the child seeks comfort, support, nurturance, or protection” (Boris & Zeanah, 2005). Social and emotional development of children is not possible without attachment experience. Secure attachments are characterized by trust, affection, positive self-esteem, intimacy, future independence, ability to cope with negative emotions and impulses and so on.  Attachment disorders are the cases of disruptions in attachment, mostly because of neglect, abuse or maltreatment for a relatively long period of time. Attachment disorders include psychiatric illnesses, which tend to develop by young children, experiencing problems with emotional attachment with other people. The problems with emotional attachment could be noticed by parents and caregivers already by 12 months aged children.

The first symptoms, which could be noticed by parents include:

  • failure to gain weight
  • problems with comforting a child
  • feeding problems
  • defiant behavior
  • being too close with strange people
  • hesitancy in social interactions (Alston, 2007)

Children with attachment disorders face difficulties with building their early relationships. This could be related to the facts of physical abuse of neglect of children. In some cases children might suffer from inadequate care in some institutional settings, for example in orphanage or foster care. Change of the primary caregivers could be perceived rather negatively by children. There is no concrete information about the sources of attachment disorders, but the central cause at the moment is considered to be lack of adequate care-giving for a child. Important is to note that emotional and social problems, which are associated with attachment disorder in early age, could persist even when the child will become older.

Usually there are two types of attachment disorder pointed out: reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED). Children with RAD are not inclined towards communication with other people usually due to their bad past experiences. In cases of stress they are difficult to comfort down and these children seem to reveal scarce emotions in their communication with other people. Most of the time they seem to be irritable, sad, unhappy and scared, and if these symptoms become chronic the corresponding diagnosis is made. Children with DSED are not scared, when they meet a person for the first time, they are behave friendly towards strangers. They will hug strange people, take toys or sweets from them, they would allow somebody unknown to take them away and they will not worry about their parents or caregivers.

Children with RAD and DSED need appropriate treatment by a psychiatrist and each child should get individual treatment plan. Treatment procedures do not involve a child, but also the whole family, as there is a need to secure strengthening of the relationship between a child and his or her primary caregivers. (Alston, 2007). In case such adequate treatment is not provided, then a child might experience serious problems with social and emotional development in the future. It is highly advisable to avoid such treatments as “rebirthing” or similar approaches.

Overall, attachment disorders belong to our reality, and it is utterly important for the parents and first care givers of children to keep in mind the above mentioned disturbing things by their children. In case they have doubts, they are advised to ask for comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by a qualified mental health specialist before starting any kind of treatment.

References:

Alston, John. (2007).The Complex Issue of Attachment Disorders Volume: 24

The source provides information about the complexity of attachment disorders by children

American Psychiatric Association. (2000).  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association

The source is devoted to the peculiarities of diagnostic of attachment disorders.

Boris N.W., Zeanah C.H. (2005).  Reactive attachment disorder. Philadelphia: Williams & Wilkins

The source gives general information about attachment disorders.

Skovgaard A.M., Houmann T., Christiansen E. (2000).  The prevalence of mental health problems in children 1(½) years of age – the Copenhagen Child Cohort

The sources explains the importance of controlling of the problem of attachment disorders by chidren.

Zeanah C.H., Keyes A., Settles L. (2003). Attachment relationship experiences and child psychopathology. Ann N Y Acad Sci

The source focuses upon the peculiarities of attachment relationships by children.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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