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20.10: Attachment Disorder

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    173929

    • Amanda Taintor & Wendy Ruiz

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    Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

    Another attachment pattern is reactive attachment disorder (RAD). Students with RAD typically have serious aggression problems, often hurting others and showing little empathy or remorse. Safety-seeking behaviors, anxiety, and depression are characteristic of the condition and an inability to be genuinely affectionate with others or develop strong connections. Students with RAD feel the need to be in control and may demonstrate bossy, argumentative, and defiant behaviors. Reactive attachment disorder is a mental health disorder diagnosed according to the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Here it is characterized as a stress-related disorder that can only be caused by a lack of adequate care (social neglect) during childhood. Children with RAD demonstrate withdrawn, internalizing type behaviors. RAD is only diagnosed in children and must be evident within the first five years of life.

    RAD is a deficit in the child's capacity to manage their feelings. If we think about RAD from the perspective of the child with it, characteristics could be described as follows:

    • I do relationships and conflict poorly because my social, emotional, and behavioral skills are ineffective in my interactions with others. My difficulties' frequency, duration, and intensity in many settings set me apart.
    • Why am I like this? My need for comfort, nurturing, and connection as a baby/young child were not met. My world is or has been one of neglect, fear, and hurt. As a result, I cannot articulate my feelings and thoughts.
    • I threaten, I throw tantrums; I am aggressive, I am demanding of your attention, I am manipulative, charming, and angry. Behaving like this is the only way I can control relationships. (Flaherty, 2011)[1]

    Remember that it is not our place to diagnose but to understand. Regardless of the type of attachment difficulty a child may have, they all need:

    • Safety
    • A caring adult who will be there
    • Emotional support
    • Understanding
    • Behavior support
    • Routines and consistency

    [1] Human Development by Human Development Teaching & Learning Group is licensed CC BY-NC-SA

    This page titled 20.10: Attachment Disorder is shared under a mixed 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Amanda Taintor & Wendy Ruiz.