1. The Impact of Trauma and Abuse on Children’s Attachment and Development. Laverne Antrobus 10.2.16

2. Neglect
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs and is the most common form of abuse.
A child may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical or health care.
A child may be put in danger or not protected from physical or emotional harm
They may not get the love, care and attention they need from their parents

3. A child who is neglected will often suffer from other abuse as well
A child who is neglected will often suffer from other abuse as well. Neglect is dangerous and can cause , long-term damage – even death.

4. Lack of basic nurturing can lead to serious psychological problems
Neglect is difficult to spot…usually because it is often the absence of something rather than the presence and relies on an individuals judgement.
Lack of basic nurturing can lead to serious psychological problems
E.g. Romanian orphanages
The original medical meaning of the word trauma is literally a piercing of the skin, and we might think of psychological trauma as piercing of a psychic skin or membrane.

5. These infants could spend up to 20 hours a day in their cots unattended.
Many showed serious cognitive impairment – much of which persisted in later years
Others engaged in stereotypical or self stimulatory/soothing behaviours.
Early neglect has been shown to lead to considerable deficits in IQ, affect brain development and general emotional development

6. Parents
Neglectful/problematic parenting – where parents do not see/are not able to interpret the signals from their children
Or see the signs and assume nothing is needed from them or are simply unable to find/provide a response

7. Attachment types – how experience shapes behaviour and belief
Secure: distressed by separation; accepts comfort; recovers equilibrium
Insecure – avoidant / anxious: little distress on separation; ignores parent on return; watchful and inhibited in play
Insecure- ambivalent / resistant: high levels of distress on separation; not comforted by reunion; alternates between anger and clinging; inhibited in play
Disorganised – confused / disturbed behaviour including ‘freezing’
Models of attachment are subject to change over time
Based on responses to Ainsworth’s Strange Situation, published in Measures attachment between children 12-24m and caregivers.
Mary Ainsworth. Research on mother-baby dyads in Uganda and USA in 60s and 70s. Attachment ‘species specific’ not culturally.
Mary Main – Disorganised category added later

8. The purpose of attachment
The experience of security (emotional and physical) is the goal of the attachment system
Attachment can be viewed as an evolutionary survival strategy
The child who is secure in their dependence on their carer can take steps to independence , safe in the knowledge they can retreat to the ‘secure base’ of their carer
This has parallels in the processes of learning and exploring. What risks can be taken? What errors can be tolerated?
Attachment disordered / disturbed – huge preoccupation to child – hard to focus on ‘learning’ in broadest sense.
Child may seek to confirm expectations of adults behaviour – act provocatively and seek sadistic or punitive response.

9. Effect of Abuse/Trauma
High stress levels Difficulty focusing and concentrating Problems regulating emotions A hyper alertness/vigilance making it difficult to relax Victims of abuse with no safe adult to rely can be seen responding in number of different ways -identifying with the abuser -becoming violent

10. Others may retreat or take up a dissociative state
Numb like state
Inability to use their emotions and bodily reactions to guide them to know about dangerous situations

11. Case Study 5 year old Early life spent in an orphanage
Very little care and stimulation
Lack of control of psychological and emotional state
Insecure Attachments
Assessment over 3 months

12. Your thoughts…
Did the experience of being cared for/thought about help
Our hope was that if she continued to receive care in this way some new ways of relating/attaching might be possible
Healthier brain structure as a result of better experiences?
Thoughts/Questions?

13. References NSPCC website ‘Nurturing Natures’ by Graham Music
Child Headed Households – children under attack –state of mind that they can find themselves in and the sense of fear in everyone
Families who are living with and with the impact of HIV Aids
Orphanage that we visit that has children who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome