Childhood Attachment Analysis

Chapter six in the book Disorders of Childhood Development and Psychopathology, authored by Parritz and Tory, points out that one of the most important accomplishments for caregivers and infants in the first year of life is developing a strong attachment relationship. Infants gain a secure attachment when their needs are consistently met, they feel affection from their caregiver, and they feel safe in their environment. From an evolutionary standpoint, attachments between a baby and caregiver are necessary for survival.
Besides a secure attachment, there are three other types of attachments. The first is resistant attachment which is often caused by an inconsistency and/or unpredictability from the caregiver. Sometimes needs and fears are …show more content…
Unfortunately, these improvements are not seen with disinhibited social engagement disorder. The primary cause of attachment disorders is inadequate caregiving. This may include inattentive, inconsistent, intrusive, neglectful, and abusive parenting. Another cause is parents with mental illness or who have their own attachment disorders. Institutionalization of children has been documented to cause attachment disorders, this is especially true in the Romanian orphanages. Children with a difficult temperament, medical conditions, and other genetic influences can be prone to attachment problems.
The initial assessment gives history and relevant data about the child and the parent. Children can be assessed and diagnosed through history taking and interviews, questionnaires and structured tasks, and most importantly observations. As children get older it is harder to assess and treat attachment …show more content…
I’ve learned that early attachment has a profound influence on the development of a child. When I have a child or adolescent as a client, I will need to look for signs of attachment problems, so that I will be able to understand the client and give a proper diagnosis.
This reading has impacted my understanding of working as a therapist. When working with clients of any age, I will need to check and take into account attachment problems from their childhood. I can also teach parents to develop more secure attachments with their children.
This knowledge will help me in working with and understanding children and adolescents. It is sad to read about the children from Romanian Orphanages and to see how the attachment problems have caused cognitive, developmental, social, and emotional problems. It is also sad that there are children in our society who have some of the same attachment problems. I hope as a MFT I will be able to help

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