Attachment begins in infancy where attachment behaviors are controlled by a distinct goal-corrected behavioral system, which has a set "goal" of maintaining proximity to a nurturing adult and a biological function of promoting the child's security and survival.
Studies have recently shown that between 10-80% of all foster and adopted children suffer from some sort of disorganized attachment. Most recently more has been written about RAD or Reactive Attachment Disorder. Per Wikipedia, RAD is described as Reactive attachment disorder (also known as "RAD") is the broad term used to describe those disorders of attachment which are classified in ICD-10 94.1 and 94.2, and DSM-IV 313.89. RAD arises from a failure to form normal attachments to primary care giving figures in early childhood. Such a failure would result from unusual early experiences of neglect, abuse, abrupt separation from caregivers after about age 6 months but before about age 3 years, frequent change of caregivers, or lack of caregiver responsiveness to child communicative efforts. It is characterised by markedly disturbed and developmentally inappropriate social relatedness in most contexts, beginning before the age of 5 years. The theoretical base for reactive attachment disorder is attachment theory.
Attachment theory is concerned with the bond that develops between child and caretaker and the consequences this has for the child's emerging self concept and developing view of the socioworld. The disorder does not simply affect the children who are afflicted, but the entire family with whom this child lives.
Most families are a tight circle of love, but the RAD child cannot accept this love and will do everything they can to alienate those in the family. In many families this will lead to a break that can't be repaired. The RAD child will typically use their main manipulation skills against their main caregiver and to the outside world this child will present as well behaved. The "target" will be the object of tantrums, anger, hitting, and other negative behaviors too numerous to mention.
If this disorder is not treated when the child is young enough to be taught to attach and form normal relationships it can lead to an adult who will show sociopathic tendencies. These children will grow into adults with conscience and no impulse control. Symptoms to look for in foster and adoptive children include:
- Intense control battles, very bossy and argumentative; defiance and anger
- Resists affection on parental terms
- •Lack of eye contact, especially with parents - will look into your eyes when lying
- •Manipulative - superficially charming and engaging
- •Indiscriminately affectionate with strangers
- •Poor peer relationships
- •Steals
- •Lies about the obvious
- •Lack of conscience - shows no remorse
- •Destructive to property, self and/or others
- •Lack of impulse control
- •Hypervigilant/Hyperactive
- •Learning lags/delays
- •Speech and language problems
- •Incessant chatter and/or questions
- •Inappropriately demanding and/or clingy
- •Food issues - hordes, gorges, refuses to eat, eats strange things, hides food
- •Fascinated with fire, blood, gore, weapons, evil
- •Very concerned about tiny hurts but brushes off big hurts
- •Parents appear hostile and angry
- •The child was neglected and/or physically abused in the first three years of life
If you notice any of the above symptoms in a child who is in your care contact their case worker or seek help from a professional in order to obtain a correct diagnosis and begin helping to child learn to attach and heal.
While hearing that a child in your care has an attachment disorder, it is not something that has to impact their life or yours for the long term. An attachment therapist can help your child learn to trust in themselves, and in you; in the long run they can be taught to learn to attach.
