Essay on Child of Rage

This technique was chosen because Pamela uses anger and/or shutting down to cope with perceived threats within her family. The entire family could benefit from this technique so that they may go from using emotionally reactivity to shifting towards a more functional cognitive process while engaging with one another (Gladding, 2010).

In the earliest stages of development, emotions are diffuse and infants have little control over their behavioral expression, relying instead on the dyadic regulation provided by their caregivers’ responses to behavioral signals. Attachment disorders form in infancy and early childhood as a result of instability in the child-caregiver relationship. Attachment-disordered children typically have experienced abusive or neglectful care, multiple changes between caregivers and environments, or the sudden loss of a parent or parents.

The term ‘attachment’ is used by psychologists who study the child’s early relationships. An attachment is a unique emotional bond normal between a child and an adult. A theorist called John Bowlby (1970-90) had a relation to the attachment theory. In 1950s John identified that when children and

Reactive Attachment Disorder is a common infancy/early childhood disorder. Reactive attachment disorder is located under the trauma- and stressors-related disorder section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Fifth Edition. It is normally diagnosed when an infant or child experience expresses a minimal attachment to a figure for nurturance, comfort, support, and protection. Although children diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder have the ability to select their attachment figure, they fail to show behavioral manifestation because they had limited access during the early developmental stage. Some disturbed behaviors include diminished or absence of positive emotions toward caregiver. In addition,

Attachment theory, put forth by John Bowlby, is in agreement with Freudian psychoanalytic theory in that our early experiences with caregivers shape our adult ability to love. In contrast to psychoanalytic theory, attachment theory focuses on what Bowlby called the attachment response (Belsky, 2013, p. 15-16). Basically, we are genetically pre-programmed to form attachments with others because this will help us survive (McLeod, 2007). Bowlby believed in monotropy, which is an attachment conceptualized as being a vital and close bond with just one attachment figure, typically the mother. This attachment to the mother is the most important and if it is broken or disrupted during the critical two-year period the child will suffer irreversible long-term consequences of this maternal deprivation. This risk continues until the age of 5 (McLeod, 2007). So, based on this, a child who is 4 or 5 and whose parents are going through a divorce may experience a disrupted attachment to the mother due to diminished or incompetent parenting. Long-term consequences of maternal deprivation might include delinquency, reduced intelligence, increased aggression, depression and affectionless psychopathy. Attachment theory, just as in

Attachment disorder children never bond properly to their abusive caretakers, resulting in an inability to bond with anyone else later in life (Crosson-Tower 58).

Attachment in Adopted Children; Research shows most all adopted children particularly over the age of 5 years old will likely develop some form of an attachment issue. Attachment is an emotional bond that will typically develop between infants / young children and their caregivers. When a child feels a attachment security it will help stimulate trust, social emotional and conative development in a child’s brain, this will help to shape future responses and reactions thru out a child’s developmental stages of growth. A child with some form of attachment disorder problem will have difficulty connecting to others and managing their own emotions. This will result in a lack of trust and self worth, a fear of getting close to anyone, anger, and a need to be in control.

Attachment is an emotional bond that is created between one person to another across a life span. Attachment can be a connection between two individuals, but it is a bond that involves a regular contact with that person and also expressed distress when separated from that person. Also, attachment can play an important role during childhood, adolescent and romantic relationships. Attachment tends to be enduring and meaningful because it can last for a long time between people. However, being attached can motivate children to stay close to people that they love. Attachment can also help people build emotional bond between each others, that can have a secure base so that people can safely explore their environment. Although studies have shown that children who are securely attached can also develop an increase of independence and confidence. Meanwhile, children who are not securely attached can develop risks such as poor internal working models in life.

Reactive Attachment Disorder is a psychological disorder which effects children and adults in the United States. Reactive Attachment Disorder or “RAD”, “is a rare but serious condition in which an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments with parents or caregivers” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Adolescents suffer from reactive attachment disorder in the United States due to a lack of appropriate parent care which can be cured through seeking the assistance of professionals.

She saw how all the other families were going through misfortune. For a while, she felt kind of bad, but then she thought about her children. This made her feel very proud of herself. Those misfortunes suffered by other families became a good thing to her once again

What are the consequences when children are not given the love, a sense of safety, and care they need? While some of the behaviors of Reactive Attachment Disorder has been noted as far back as the mid-20th century (Fox and Zeanah 32), and was not even introduced as a disorder until 1980 in the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Gleason and Zeanah 207). Children have been exhibiting the symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder long before scientist started documenting it. During the early years, not much was known about Reactive Attachment Disorder, although scientist have learned much about this disorder since. Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that only adopted children have this disorder. The thought is that children taken from their parental units by state officials or from orphanages, mostly from overseas, at a young age and placed into new homes caused this problem, but this has since been found to be untrue. Children that do not receive the nurturing love, the feeling of safety, and are abused in many different ways will have this disorder. The life of a child diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be extremely difficult due to the characteristic angry outbursts, the habitual telling of untruths, and recurrent stealing which can cause the people around them have a difficult time making a connection with them.

Another attachment disorder found among children is reactive attachment disorder (RAD). Reactive attachment disorder is a child’s inability to form affectionate bonds with other people. Additionally, social relationships and skills are difficult and uneasy for the child. RAD can occur when a child in their early years if the child experiences extreme abuse, neglect of physical or emotional needs, or a constant change in caregiver leaving the child unable to form an attachment with the caregiver.

Coohey, and Braun (1997) notes that there are three factors that increase the chances of child physical abuse, and they are exposure to aggression, exposure to stressors, and access to resources (p.1082). These three factors can contribute to the increase of child abuse within a family. For a Social Worker these areas are a great place to look at to determine child abuse. However, it is important to understand what the three terms mean. According to Coohey and Braun (1997) they stated that “exposure to aggression occurs when an individual views or is the object of another individual’s use of physical force” (p.1082).

I felt that Beth being place in a special home for children with attachment disorders was best for her. Sometimes a child, like Beth, may need to be removed from an environment and placed with others who can better care for them. I think that was a good decision by the therapist, because Beth was becoming unmanageable. The more unmanageable a child becomes, the more behaviors the child will start to exhibit. Therefore, treatment was needed for Beth in order for social and emotional development to take

Attachment is the foundation for a strong relationship between caregivers and children. Children usually become attached to the person who cares for them most often during their first year of life. There is secure and insecure attachment which can affect a child and their future.