Autism is a developmental disorder associated with limited social capacity, a disability in social interaction. However, this social ability appears to be crucial in developing an attachment relationship with the parent or caregiver. Indeed, children with autism appear to exhibit insecure attachment more often than children without autism.
Autism
Autism is described as a pervasive developmental disorder by the DSM IV , the most widely used classification tool. The autistic disorder is identified using three core symptoms:
- Qualitative limitations in social interactions
- Qualitative limitations in communication
- Restricted, repetitive stereotypical patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
Qualitative limitations in social interactions
Autism is a form of a contact disorder . People with autism have difficulty with social interaction. The translation of this into practice is very diverse. One person completely cuts themselves off from the outside world, while the other imposes themselves on other people in an inadequate way.
Qualitative limitations in communication
People with autism often encounter communication and language problems. Communication is often more difficult than the contact itself. Some people with autism never even learn to speak . The people who have learned to speak often stand out because of their distinctive voice and/or choice of words. People have a lot of difficulty discussing feelings because they cannot empathize with the other person’s feelings. Interpreting non-verbal communication often does not go smoothly.
Restricted, repetitive stereotypical patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
A large group of people with autism adhere strongly to fixed rituals . For example, people are fascinated by trains, or by numbers. The connection with reality is often disrupted: stimuli come in too weak or too strong.
Although the above three characteristics are the core symptoms , it does not mean that everyone with autism must meet all of the above points. Autism is a disorder that has a lot of variety . One person has more difficulty with social interaction, while another does not but has a strong obsession with car brands. For example, classic autism is one of the subtypes.
Attachment
Attachment is the emotional bond that a child develops with his parent or caregiver (Ainsworth 1979). The behavior a child exhibits, especially in the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test, reflects the expectations a child has for the support and safety of the parent or caregiver. Following various events at a young age, a child develops a stable attachment pattern.
Ainsworth’s strange situation tests
Ainsworth developed a test called Strange Situation . During this test, the child is placed in a play area with toys together with the parent. The child is then exposed to a number of conditions, including separation from the parent twice and meeting a stranger twice. The child’s reactions are carefully observed and recorded.
Following the research, Ainsworht presented three attachment categories :
- Securely attached: the child explores the play area but keeps an eye on the mother. When mother leaves they are somewhat upset, but as soon as mother returns they greet her and continue playing. 60% of children fall into this category
- Insecurely attached ambivalent: child stays close to mother and hardly explores. When mother leaves they are angry and when she returns the child repels her but at the same time seeks comfort
- Insecure attachment avoidant: child seems indifferent to mother, child is comforted as easily by strangers as by mother
The children who do not fall into any of the categories are called disorganized .
Parental sensitivity
An important factor in attachment is the sensitivity of the parents. This means that they do not give the child too much or too little attention and support, etc. and that they are there for their child at the right time.
The importance of attachment
When children are about three years old, the Strange Situation Test is no longer a representative reflection of attachment. The child is then able to understand the situation with acquired cognitive skills and not react according to a certain pattern. Yet attachment theorists argue that attachment style at a young age still influences the child later in life.
Definitely attached
Children with a secure attachment style have learned early on that they can rely on the constant accessibility of their parent or caregiver. This makes them feel free to explore the environment from this safe base.
Avoidant/ambivalent attachment
Less good cognitive and social-emotional development is expected for anxiously attached children in particular. These children seem to have little confidence in the parent or caregiver and are therefore strongly focused on this person. This focus hinders cognitive development by limiting environmental exploration . However,
these descriptions do not apply to everyone. If a child is not securely attached to the mother, it may well be that other important attachment figures are present that can compensate for the attachment to the mother , so that the child can still develop completely normally.
Autism and attachment
In the 1980 third edition of the DSM, an inability to attach was seen as a central feature of autism. This has been modified in later editions to the idea that the attachment patterns of children with autism can be bizarre and that at times, especially stressful times, these children may not seek security from the parent or caregiver at all or in an extreme manner. However,
research by Buitelaar (1995), among others, shows that children with autism can indeed show attachment patterns.
Are there differences in attachment between children with and children without autism?
A meta-analysis (van der Veer, van Ijzen-doorn and van Vliet-Visser 1986) showed that children with autism are less likely to show secure attachment than children without autism. This appeared to be especially the case in children with a more severe form of autism. It is possible that this is due to the limited communication skills of many children with autism, which limits parental responsiveness.