Failure to form attachment

Failure to form attachment

1. Hodges and Tizard

   • Followed a group of 65 British children from early life to adolscence
   • Explicit policy against formation of attachments
   • 70% couldn't care deeply about others
   • Conc: most/all children suffered emotional privation

2. They found

   • Some adopted, made close attachments
   • some fostered - remained distant
   • Issues with peers
     • no best friend
     • not liked
     • bullies
   • Disinhibited attachment
     • Supports Bowlby's sensitive period

3. Romanian Orphanages

   • Rutter et al 2007
   • 100 orphans adopted by british families
   • Adopted before 6 months old considered 'normal'
   • Adopted after 6 months old showed insecure attachments and problems with peers
   • if a child does not form an attachment the consequences are likely to be severe

4. Attachment disorder

   • when children experience interruptions in early attachments it effects later development
   • No preferred attachment figure
   • inability to interact
   • severe neglect
   • The two types:
     • Reactive and inhibited: shy withdrawn unable to cope with social situations
     • Disinhibited: overly friendly and attention seeking