5 Signs Of Emotional Deprivation In Children
Children have a deep need for love and affection from their primary caregivers to develop adequately. However, when there is a lack of care, protection, attachment and attention in the early years, children may suffer from emotional deprivation.
This emotional deficiency can be the result of many things… Neglect, abandonment, abuse and other complicated family situations that, traumatic or not, leave children without love and relational attention.
If you want to know about the signs of this serious problem in children, keep reading today’s article.
What is emotional deficiency?
Emotional deficiency occurs when babies or children experience neglect. This may be due to lack of care or attention from their primary caregivers. Traumatic situations, such as abandonment or abuse, can also be the cause. Unfortunately, it can lead to emotional deprivation when parents are emotionally distant or absent and do not give their children the time and attention they need.
As a consequence, children feel that they are not loved. They feel that their parents reject or ignore them, which has a negative impact on their emotions. When children are young, they do not really realize what is going on. However, they perceive that they are living in an environment that does not provide them with the love and attention they need.
Signs of emotional deficiency in children
Aggression
When children become aggressive, it is best to give them the attention they need. And, more than anything else, you have to listen to them. Show them that what they say is important. That way, they will have the confidence to express what is bothering them.
Disobedience
When children feel that their parents are ignoring their needs, disobedience often arises. By exhibiting negative behaviors, they seek to become the point of attention. Some signs of disobedience in children include the following:
- Anger
- Impulsiviet
- Sudden mood swings
- Uncontrolled crying
- Problems with aggression
- Fear
These issues require professional attention. If not, and the children are unable to overcome them, they develop a kind of emptiness and a lack of trust. As children grow up, it can continue to affect them.
Fear arises in the little ones due to the fact that they fear rejection when they do not receive affection from their family. In this situation, it is important for children to receive therapy to overcome their problems.
Uncertainty
When children feel the emotional emptiness that emotional deprivation creates, they feel fragile – without protection. It will make them fear relationships with other people. They are constantly in a defensive position, and the distrust they have towards other peoples is a sign that something is wrong.
Poor academic performance
Emotional deficiency also has academic consequences, including poor performance, learning difficulties, and a lack of motivation according to homework. These children tend to take longer to develop language and their social skills are scarce. They reject any sign of affection from those around them.
Excessive interest in electronic devices
Some parents, leave their children to electronic devices, just to keep them calm and quiet… Tablets, cell phones, televisions, etc. As a result, the children end up lacking human interaction. In doing so, they also end up developing an addiction to these devices.
Consequences of emotional deficiency
- A general lack of trust in others
- Problems expressing their emotions, as well as controlling them
- Attention problems
- Anxiety
- Problems controlling impulses, with behavioral changes and aggressive reactions
- Scarcity of language development and social skills
As a result of emotional deficiency, all of these symptoms can accompany children into adulthood. It will make them addicted and egocentric individuals with poor social skills.
The signs of emotional deprivation can serve as a warning that there are things one needs to do differently. If you notice them in your children, make sure you change your behavior and act so that you meet your children’s needs.
It is important to keep in mind that emotional deprivation affects the development of children’s personality. This includes identity issues and emotional immaturity. In the future, when children grow up, they may find it difficult to establish stable relationships due to their lack of trust.
