Chapter 10: Emotional Development And Attachment

In chapter 10, Emotional Development and Attachment, they describe an attachment as an emotional bond that a child can develop with a person that provides them with a sense of security. In reactive attachment disorder (RAD) a child is unable to form any attachment; “the child is withdrawn from caregivers and shows disturbance in both social and emotional functioning.” The book says that the cause of attachment is because there was no consistence within the caregiving, sensitivity and responsiveness that these children receive. RAD occurs most in children that are raised with multiple changing caregivers, like those that are raised in orphanages. Children raised in a closer setting like a foster care have less of a chance of having RAD. The …show more content…

It is caused when a child’s basic needs for affection, nurturing, and comfort are not met and they do not establish caring, loving or stable attachments with others. If a child does not have a stable caring environment where they can build trust and feel safe, they are at higher risk of having attachment disorders. If a child is constantly ignored when they are in need of an emotional response, for instance when they are crying, they do not come to expect comfort from their caregivers and may be unable to form an attachment to them. Some children whom experience extreme social and emotional neglect are at an increased risk of developing RAD. Listed below is a direct quote from the website listing the children who are at higher risk of …show more content…

They can fail to smile. They can experience unexplained fear, sadness or irritability; they can also have a sad and unenthusiastic appearance. Children may not engage in social interaction and may have no interest in playing any interactive games (among many others listed on the website.) Some of the available treatments for RAD include creating a stable and nurturing environment, psychological counseling, and providing parents and caregivers with the proper counseling and education to be able to provide positive child and caregiver interactions. The website states that there is no standard treatment for RAD but that creating a healthy, nurturing and stable environment for a child can help to improve the attachment disorder. Early intervention comes with improved