Final answer:
Research has found that early intervention can improve attachment issues in infants with reactive attachment disorder (RAD), which is a condition affecting emotional bonding and security with caregivers. It is imperative for healthy psychosocial development to address and mitigate RAD through interventions that promote secure attachment between caregivers and children.
Step-by-step explanation:
In studying infants from ages 6 to 30 months with reactive attachment disorder (RAD), results found that early intervention can improve attachment. RAD is not considered a normal developmental phase; instead, it involves serious issues with forming emotional attachments due to inadequate caregiving experiences. Children with RAD may exhibit an inability to form normal attachments to caregivers, which can affect their emotional and social development.
In the context of attachment theory and research by Mary Ainsworth, variants of attachment styles such as secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized attachments have been identified. Secure attachment is the healthiest form, with the child using the caregiver as a base of security from which they can explore the environment. In contrast, resistant attachment involves difficulty in comfort from caregivers upon reunion, avoidant attachment shows unresponsiveness to the caregiver, and disorganized attachment is associated with odd and erratic behaviors.
Thus, the study of attachment and interventions to improve outcomes for children with RAD is a critical aspect of fostering healthier psychosocial development. Parental sensitivity and responsiveness to a child's needs are factors that contribute positively toward forming secure attachments and mitigating problems associated with RAD.