Attachment Disorder Definition

A behavioral disorder caused by the lack of an emotionally secure attachment to a caregiver in the first two years of life, characterized by an inability to form healthy relationships and often by poor impulse control, chronic anger, and antisocial tendencies.

A psychiatric disorder of children characterized by lack of emotional responsiveness especially to caregivers and by frequent negative emotions such as fear and sadness, caused by emotional neglect or other conditions preventing formation of secure attachment to a caregiver early in life.

Any of various other disorders characterized by difficulty forming healthy attachments.

(psychology) A condition where a person, especially a child, has difficulty, or is incapable of, bonding with others.