7/19/10

Emotional and Behavioural

Disorders: 
Attachment Disorder

•  Healthy Attachment Cycle

(Consistency leads to
trust and
development,
regulating their
emotions)
Disturbed attachment cycle

(Inconsistency leads
to distrust)

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A"achment

•  the deep and enduring connection that is
established between a child and caregiver in
the first several years of life.
•  influences every component of the human
condition - mind, body, emotions, relationships
and values – its not something that parents do
to their children; rather, it is something that
children and parents create together, in an
ongoing reciprocal relationship (instinctual).
•  A physiological, emotional, sociological, and
cognitive phenomenon

Reasons
for
A"achment

•  Learn basic trust and reciprocity, which serves as a
template for all future emotional relationships.
•  Explore the environment with feelings of safety and
security, which leads to healthy cognitive and social
development.
•  Develop the ability to self-regulate, which results
in effective management of impulses and emotions.
•  Create a foundation for the formation of identity,
which includes a sense of competency, self-worth,
and a balance between dependence and autonomy.
•  Establish a moral framework, which involves
empathy, compassion and conscience.

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•  Children who begin their lives with secure

attachment prove to fare better in all the
following areas of development:
Self-Esteem
Ability to manage feelings
Resilience in the face of Adversity
Long-term friendships
Relationships with parents
Social skills
Trust, intimacy, affection, Empathy,
Compassion
Behavioural performance and academic
success in school

What
is
A"achment
Disorder?

•  Children failing to develop secure attachments to
loving caregivers – left without the foundations for
healthy development
•  Causes an array of problems - emotional,
behavioural, social, cognitive, developmental,
physical, moral
•  Research has shown that up to 80% of high risk
families (abuse and neglect, poverty, substance
abuse, domestic violence, history of maltreatment in
parents' childhood, depression and other
psychological disorders in parents) create severe
attachment disorders in their children

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•  Compared to securely attached children,

attachment disordered children are
significantly more likely to be
aggressive, disruptive and antisocial.
•  Teenage boys, who have experienced
attachment difficulties early in life, are
three times more likely to commit violent
crimes.
•  Disruption of attachment during the
crucial first three years can lead to the
inability to form meaningful emotional
relationships, coupled with chronic
anger, poor impulse control, and a lack
of remorse.

Traits
&
Symptoms

•  A child may display the following:
Behaviour: defiant, destructive, lying, stealing,
aggressive/abusive, irresponsible
Emotions: anger, sadness, depression, hopelessness,
moody, fearful
Thoughts: negative beliefs about self, relationships,
life in general
Relationships: distrust, controlling, manipulative,
unstable
Moral: lack of compassion, remorse

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Poten;al
Causes

•  The following are situations or experiences where
children may be at a higher risk for developing
attachment disorders:
1)  Parental/Caregiver Contributions
-  abuse, neglect
-  Ineffective/insensitive care
-  Depression
-  Teenage parenting
-  Substance abuse
-  Prolonged absence

Poten;al
Causes

•  2) Child Contributions
-  Medical conditions
-  Separation and loss
-  Neurological impairment, fetal alcohol syndrome
-  Genetic factors: mental illness, depression,
aggression, abuse
-  3) Environmental Conditions
-  Poverty
-  Violence, trauma
-  Lack of support
-  High stress (home, community)

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How
can
Teachers
Help
–
Dr.
Bruce

Perry

•  Nurture these children – act accordingly through a
caring and loving nature, attempting to provide
replacement experiences
•  Try to understand their behaviour before punishment
or consequences – learning about their difficulties
will help you to develop useful interventions
•  Be consistent, predictable, repetitive – when they feel
safe, they can benefit from the nurturing experiences
you provide
•  Model and teach appropriate behaviour – socially
(communication, interactions) – building relationships
•  Be patient with the child’s progress and yourself
•  Take advantage of all available resources (support
groups, psychologists, counselors)

www.ontariodirectors.ca/IEP-PEI/index.html
(IEP RESOURCE – Examples)
www.attachmentdisorder.net