Attachment Theory the Cider House Rules Maureen

Attachment Theory & the Cider House Rules Maureen Mack, Ph. D. Curriculum & Instruction University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Overview v Definitions of Secure/Insecure Attachment v Types of Disordered Attachment v Effects of Attachment Quality & Trauma on the Developing Brain v Treatment and Strategies

Definition of Secure Attachment Secure attachment is an enduring affective bond characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain proximity to a specific person, particularly when under stress. – Ainsworth and Bowlby

Characteristics of Secure Attachment v Deep, long lasting, emotional attachment v Influences mind, body, emotions, relationships, and values (Levy) v Positive affect on self-esteem, independence, enduring relationships, empathy, compassion, and resiliency

Critical Aspect of Attachment Emotional Sensitivity— appropriate parental emotional expression and reception. EA qualities can be observed in parents of children of any age.

Secure Attachment = Parents + Child Instinctual urge to attach rooted in evolution

Definition of Attachment Disorder Attachment disorder is the inability to form loving, lasting intimate relationships

Characteristics of Attachment Disorder v Lack of reciprocal behavior v Rights violations v Frequent aggressive and destructive acts v Lack of remorse

Examples of Secure-Insecure Attachment Homer View Movie Clip from website (9, 507 kb. wmv)

Examples of Secure-Insecure Attachment Bedtime at the Orphanage View Movie Clip from website (4, 131 kb. wmv)

Small Group Exercise 1

Overview v Definitions of Secure/Insecure Attachment v Types of Disordered Attachment v Effects of Attachment Quality & Trauma on the Developing Brain v Treatment and Strategies

Types of Insecure Attachment Ambivalent Avoidant Disorganized

Ambivalent • Cling, withdraw in unfamiliar environment • Separation anxiety • Rejects efforts to comfort, sooth

Avoidant • Pseudo independence and self-sufficiency • Rejects or avoids comforting • Unaffected by close, intimate contacts

Disorganized • Most serious form • No consistent strategy for comfort-seeking • Depression, motor-freezing, and disassociation

Insecure Attachment Continuum Mild Severe

Common Causes of Disorder Attachment v Abuse v Neglect Mild v Addiction v Multiple out of home placements v Parental death/loss Severe

Hard Being An Orphan View Movie Clip from website (5, 530 kb. wmv)

Characteristics Behavioral Emotional

Characteristics Thought Relational

Characteristics Physical Moral/Spiritual

Small Group Exercise 2

Overview v Definitions of Secure/Insecure Attachment v Types of Disordered Attachment v Effects of Attachment Quality & Trauma on the Developing Brain v Treatment and Strategies

Brain Development Normal Altered

Brain Development Fetal—first 2 years—most rapid growth; quality of caretaking impacts brain Normal Alarm Reactions Alter chemical wiring Traumatized infants/children Altered Neurobehavioral problems

Attachment Disorder and ADHD Bonding Breaks Attachment Deficits Symptoms of ADHD

Small Group Exercise 3

Homer Returns View Movie Clip from website (19, 304 kb. wmv)

Overview v Definitions of Secure/Insecure Attachment v Types of Disordered Attachment v Effects of Attachment Quality & Trauma on the Developing Brain v Treatment and Strategies

Treatment v Create attachment patterns v Systemic approach to ward against triangulation v Holistic-integrative approaches v Revisit, revise, revitalize v Relationship healing

Strategies for Developing Secure Attachments v Reciprocal behaviors between child and adult v Respectful eye contact, body language v Respectful verbal language v Calming, soothing, nurturing responses v Claiming behaviors v Physical proximity and touching v Careful, deliberate listening v Accepting limits - boundaries

Strategies for Developing Secure Attachments v Climate and Relational v Ease and spontaneity in words and movements v Comfort in compliments, affection, appreciation v Harmony in words and actions v Preserve harmony and dignity under stress

Strategies for Developing Secure Attachments v Classroom Environment/Structure v Rationality v Realism v Intuitiveness v Creativity v Admit and correct mistakes v Benevolence and cooperativeness

Strategies for Developing Secure Attachments v Specific Instruction and Intervention Approaches v Family Bereavement Program v Character trait assessment through literature v Integration of Search Institute External/Internal Asset Checklist into curriculum, lessons activities v Role model unit v Share personal feelings and stories v Create and maintain safe, non-judgmental instructional environment v Teacher Assistance Programs

Small Group Exercise 4

References Ainsworth, M. D. S. , & Wittig, B. A. (1969). Attachment and the exploratory behavior of one year olds in a strange situation. In B. M. Foss (Ed. ), Determinants of infant behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 113 -136). London: Metheun. Gallup, G. H. , Moore, D. W. , & Schussel, R. (1995). Disciplining children in America: A Gallup Poll Report. Princeton, NJ: The Gallup Organization. Irving, John. (1999). The Cider House Rules. Modern Library: ISBN: 0679603352 Lach, J. (1997). Facilitating developmental attachment: The road to emotional recover and behavioral change in foster and adopted children. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. Levy, Terry, M. (editor). (2000). Handbook of Attachment Interventions. San Diego: California. Lyons-Ruth, K. , Alpern, L. , & Repacholi, B. (1993). Disorganized infant attachment classification and maternal psychosocial problems as predictors of hostile-aggressive behavior in the preschool classroom. Child Development, 64, 572 -585. Main, M. , & Solomon, J. (1990). Procedures for identifying infants as disorganized/disoriented during the Ainsworth Strange Situation. In M. Greenberg, D. Cicchetti, & E. M. Cummings (Eds. ), Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention (pp. 121 -160). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Perry, B. D. , Pollard, R. , Blakely, T. , Baker, W. , & Vigilante, D. (1995). Childhood trauma, the neurobiology of adaptation and “use-dependent” development of the brain: How “states” become “traits”. Infant Mental Health Journal, 16(4), 271 -291. Terr, L. A. (1991). Chihood traumas: An outline and overview. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 1 -20. The Cider House Rules. (1999). Miramax Films.

Questions

Thanks for Coming! Maureen Mack, Ph. D. mackmd@uwec. edu University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire