In Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder, what behavior is commonly exhibited by the child?

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) is characterized by a pattern of behavior in which a child actively approaches and interacts with unfamiliar adults, often displaying a lack of usual social boundaries. This behavior, such as approaching unfamiliar adults with minimal concern, indicates the child's failure to demonstrate the typical wariness or caution that is expected in young children when encountering strangers.

Children with DSED engage in overly familiar behavior with people they do not know well, which can include seeking attention or affection from these individuals without hesitance. This contrasts sharply with normal developmental stages where children usually demonstrate some degree of fear or apprehension around strangers as a protective mechanism.

The behaviors of checking in with caregivers regularly, displaying caution around unfamiliar adults, and exhibiting extreme emotional distress around adults reflect anxiety or attachment disturbances, which are not characteristic of DSED. Instead, children with this disorder typically appear overly social and unguarded in their interactions with those who are unfamiliar to them.