Dr. Ken Magid authored the book High Risk: Children Without a Conscience. The book is recommended reading in training sessions for anyone who might be considering foster parenting or adopting an older youngster. I believe this book is helpful to parents of any child who exhibits attachment issues.

• First, what are some causes for attachment issues in infants and young children?

According to specialists on the subject, including Dr. Magid, these causes may include:

1. A genetic history of attachment disorder among family members.
2. Trauma before birth, such as a mother using drugs and/or under extreme stress.
3. Emotionally disturbed parent.
4. Premature birth and/or low birth weight.
5. Birth trauma – serious complications during the birth process.
6. Separation at birth or shortly after with a primary caregiver.
7. Other interruptions in the consistency of care, including divorce, daycare, abuse and/or a neglectful family setting.
   
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• Secondly, it is important to understand that not every child who has experienced any of the above will develop an attachment disorder, however those children who do exhibit symptoms will most likely have experienced one or more of the above events.

Now that you may have a better idea of the symptoms of Attachment Disorder and some of the causes for unattachment, below is a list of some high risk signs of unnattachment in infants:

1. Abnormal crying (without tears) and/or constant whining.
2. Resistance to cuddling and holding close.
3. Resists close face-to-face eye contact.
4. Poor sucking response.
5. Resists smiling, even when tickled or played with lovingly.

Dr. Magid also believes that an infant who is extremely passive and lifeless is at high risk for Attachment Disorder. Later this passivity will give way to rage. He states that it is important to remember that strong attachment and bonding involves a positive interplay between the caregiver and the infant and that this starts well before birth.

There are some children out there with attachment disorders so severe that love from another person simply is not enough. The parents mean well and the child is not deliberately wanting to push them away. Because of circumstances out of perhaps both their control, bonding by the child does not happen. The extreme that can happen with these children is that they never develop a conscience and grow up to  become psychopaths, criminals and killers. These children may be superficially charming, sometimes willing to “go with anyone”, including strangers, which at first glance, appears that a bond has developed. When this pattern continues, it becomes obvious that there was never a real attachment at all.

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A very charming psychopath: Ted Bundy

Many of the children who enter the foster care system and then are subsequently adopted, are children who  should be diagnosed with Attachment Disorder. Unfortunately however,  it’s not unusual for this to go undiagnosed and this is grossly unfair to the adoptive parents as well as the child. Parents of these children feel like they have somehow failed the child; the child has unrealistic pressure and expectations put on him/her. It is vital that children who are identified as being at high risk, be evaluated and provided services at the earliest symptom. This step is crucial in changing the pattern of developing a very disturbed individual.

With some children, love is not enough. If you are considering adoption or foster care, it is highly recommended that you read the book High Risk: Children Without a Conscience by Dr. Ken Magid. He gives great suggestions, when followed, will lead to a much better chance of having a child who will develop a healthy bond and attachment to the significant others in his life. In turn, he will become a highly productive individual in society and pass on these same attributes to his/her own children. Unconditional love is merely the first step.

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