Behaviors Commonly Associated with Insecure Attachment
- Acts overly charming or is manipulative
- Makes poor eye contact
- Displays indiscriminate affection towards strangers
- Shows affection with parents only on their terms
- Rejects affection from parents (goes limp or rigid, pushes away, squirms)
- Argues for long periods of time
- Demonstrates a tremendous need to control people and situations
- Acts incredibly innocent, even when caught in the act
- Engages in daredevil or risk-taking behaviors
- Breaks belongings deliberately, then doesn't miss them'
- Breaks other's belongings deliberately
- Lacks a conscience, guilt, or remorse
- Is cruel to smaller childrend or animals
- Acts impulsively
- Steals - even things they could easily obtain or would have been given
- Demands things instead of asking for them
- Is unable to learn from mistakes or consequences
- Makes false allegations of abuse or maltreatment
- Has a high pain tolerance
- Refuses to let anyone help or comfort them
- Sneaks things - even things for which they would have been given permission
- Lies frequently
- Has food issues, such as hoarding, gorging, sneaking, or eating very slowly
- Demonstrates poor social skills or delayed development of social skills
- Engages in temper tantrums lasting up to 2 hours
- Engages in non-stop chattering
- Asks questions to which they know the answers
- Shows poor academic effort or fails to work to their potential
- Does "paybacks" or gets revenge for not getting their way
- Tries purposely to make adults mad
- Has a preoccupation with fire or gore
- Lacks respect for authority figures
- Is unable to trust that anyone understands what they need
- Feels alone, sad, ashamed or worthless much of the time