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Attachment Concepts In The School Setting. What do we call them? The “troubled “ children. Conduct Disordered Oppositional Defiant Aspergers Naughty Crazy Psycho Having bad parents. Attachment Theory.
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What do we call them?The “troubled “ children • Conduct Disordered • Oppositional Defiant • Aspergers • Naughty • Crazy • Psycho • Having bad parents
Attachment Theory • Attachment is the deep and enduring connection established between a child and caregiver in the first years of life • Profoundly influences every component of the human condition • Ongoing reciprocal relationship between child & caregiver • Infants instinctively seek a “secure base” to protect & nurture them
Attachment theory • Attachment process is a “mutual regulatory system”- infant & caregiver influencing one another over time • Helps develop our Internal Working Models • Begins before birth @ neurological & emotional level • Infants needs are met > Trust Cycle, Circle of Security
Secure Attachment • Around 80% of pop. • Learn adults can be relied upon, develop trust & reciprocity • Create foundation for identity • Develop resourcefulness & resilience • Learn how to communicate • Handle frustration & distress better • Have better self esteem & empathy • Better understanding of negative emotions
Self-esteem Independence & autonomy Resilience Manage impulses & feelings Long-term friendships Prosocial skills Trust, intimacy & affection Empathy, compassion & conscience Behaviourial performance & academic success Promote secure attachment in their chn Secure Attachment
Attachment Disorder • Failure to develop a secure attachment • Chn who begin life with disrupted and compromised attachment are at risk of developing serious problems • Vary in severity, but show lack of ability to be genuinely affectionate with other • Typically fail to develop a conscience & learn not to trust
Behaviour: defiant, oppositional, impulsive, lie (crazy), steal, cruel to animals, fire setting, aggressive, self-destructive Emotions: intense ange & temper, sad, depressed, moody, fearful & anxious inappropriate emotional reactions Thoughts: negative internal working models, lack of cause & effect thinking, attention & learning problems Relationships: lack of trust, controlling, manipulative, blame other for mistakes, vitimises, indiscriminately affectionate with strangers, trouble giving & receiving love & affection Physical: poor hygiene, accident prone, high pain tolerance, enuresis& encopresis, tactilely defensive Moral: lack of remorse, compassion & other prosocial values; identification with evil & dark side of life Traits & Symptoms
Caregivers: * abuse / neglect Ineffective care Depression bipolor Substance abuse Prolonged absences Intergenerational Teenage parenting Psychological disturbance 2. Child: Difficult temperament Premature birth Medical conditions Hospitalistions Failure to thrive Congenital/biological problems Genetic factors family histories Causes of Attachment Disorders
Causes of Attachment Disorders 3. Environmental • Poverty • Violence : victim or witness • Lack of support to caregiver • Multiple out of home placements • High stress: marital conflicts, family choas, violent community • Lack of stimulation
So at school what do we do? • Be aware of the behaviours & symptoms and discuss with school counsellor, LST • Students with attachment disorders are very controlling, manipulative & self-centred • They will attempt to control everyone around them
Establish eye contact. When angry they will have excellent eye contact Establish who is the boss: “That’s right I am the boss, but fair & good” Win control battles: Always give them a choice Recognise attempts to control:They will do “little things” to put themselves in control of every situation Allow the child to accept responsibility: to experience natural consequences Be consistent: confront each misbehaviour-support good behaviour Tips for Teachers
Tips for Teachers • Remain clam: they are in control when the teacher “looses it” • Model and verbalise desired behaviour • Document interactions & observations: helps in planning & communication to parents; protects the teacher • Request help: supportive staff esp. management
Attachment Theory • Provides a model to help understand behaviour • It is a behaviour style of relating to your child, not about love. • Traditional therapies aren’t very affective • Three clients involved: parent-the relationship-child
The School • Can be a secure base • Can promote an understanding & reduce the blame of self & others • Can help reduce negative patterns & conflicts, model language & behaviour • Can increase positive interactions • Can help reframe the parents’ concept of the child to one of the child being distressed/reacting and needing to learn control
Fear leads to AngerAnger leads to HateHate Leads to Suffering