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Attachment & Relationships - Attachment

6 important questions on Attachment & Relationships - Attachment

When can secure attachment happen?

When the caregiver responses in a sensitve, consistent and appropriate way.

What is a resistant/anxious/ambivalent attachment?

Child will appear unsure and axious about themselves, caregivers and situations. Behavior will swing from both ways (being comforted or not). Inconsistent or unpredictable behavior from caregiver.

What is a avoident attachment?

With inadequate care: child can be emotionally constricted and distant with a sense of themselves being less worthy of care and concern. Parent is less competent/overwhelmed who fails to protect the child.
With intrusive care: child may avoid over stimulating interactions, blunt emotional displays, attempt self caring and look to others (than caregivers) for play and comfort. Parent is to intrusive/excessively controlling in their care.

What is a disorganized attachment?

Child will display (especially in times of stress) disorganized behaviors & emotions to maintaining a sense of safety (undirected/misdirected behaviors, freezing, stereotyped movements, expressions of fear). Caregiver is seen as both a source or comfort & anxiety. Caregiver is gone for a long time or is percieved as frightening.

Why is attachment critical?

- Early neurological & physiological development
- Emergence/organization of emotion regulation & early personality development
- The child’s relationship prototype

What are the two disorders of attachment?

Reactive attachment disorder: Deficits in self & social development such as absence of attachment behaviors, failure to seek comfort when distressed, reduced social reciprocity, increased negative emotion & poor emotion regulation (rare diagnosis). Can improve.
Disinhibited social engagement disorder: Display a lack of wariness, an inappropriate approach to strangers, lack of physical & social boundaries, attention seeking, possible inappropriate physical contact. Observed in children with secure attachments but also disorganized. Can't really improve.