5.6: Attachment Disorders
- Page ID
- 215466
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Attachment Disorders
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), and other attachment issues, are the direct result of not forming bonds and attachments in the first several months of life. These are often seen in children who have been abused and neglected, and who are placed in the Foster Care system. These children learn through their experiences that they can only depend on themselves... in their minds, they believe that to survive they must be in control.
Children with RAD fail to attach. They learn to depend only on themselves, and to use others as they feel the need for survival. This lack of attachment and using others goes well-beyond egocentrism; it is calculated by the child for survival. Children with RAD are experts at manipulation for survival. They will use and abuse anyone in their path, as needed (in their mind) to survive and get what they want. These children have little to no remorse for any harm they may do. Some become obsessed with fire and the torture of animals, while others do not; those who do not are much easier to help. Children with RAD often present themselves as very sociable and charming with strangers; this is often misunderstood by non-suspecting adults (which the child uses to his/her advantage). These children tend to be fantastic at triangulation, creating stories, sneakiness, lying and any other manipulative technique imaginable to ensure their survival and coming out on top as the winner. Through all of this, caregivers must remember that THIS IS NOT THE CHILD’S FAULT. The child never developed attachment or learned to bond in a give-and-take relationship. Some well-known people who have presented as those with Reactive Attachment Disorder have included Adolf Hitler and Charles Manson, neither of whom received the help needed to overcome this lack of attachment. Another person was Helen Keller, who did receive the love and supportive treatment she needed in order to attach with others. Treatment makes a difference!
How can children with RAD be helped? Studies have shown that the most effective treatment is to take the child back to infancy when they should have formed this attachment. This is done by cuddling and rocking the child, allowing the child to suck on a bottle or hard candy, singing lullabies, and making lots of eye contact with the child. The child’s environment needs to be ever positive, showing and reassuring them that it is OK to trust someone else. The goal is to help them form an attachment with another human being. Sucking on something, ingesting sugar, rocking and close loving contact all help a child’s brain to calm down. These techniques can help take a child back to the stage where they should have developed this attachment, and dramatically increase their ability to bond and trust others.