Question

The child uses the parent as a base from which to explore her world in which attachment style? a. secure b. insecure avoidant c. insecure ambivalent-resistant d. disorganized

Short answer

The correct answer is a. Secure.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Attachment Styles

There are four primary attachment styles: secure, insecure avoidant, insecure ambivalent-resistant, and disorganized. Each is characterized by specific behaviors and relationships between the child and caregiver.

Relation of the behavior to the Attachment Styles

On the basis of the description given, children who feel safe when their caregivers are present and use them as a secure base from which to explore the world typically exhibit a secure attachment style, as suggested by the developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth.

Choose the Correct Attachment Style

As this specific behavior is characteristic of securely attached children, the correct answer is 'secure'. Hence, the correct answer among the given options is (a) secure.

Key concepts

Secure Attachment

Secure attachment reflects a healthy emotional bond between a child and their caregiver. In this relationship, the child views the caregiver as a reliable source of comfort and security, enabling the child to explore the world independently. This attachment style is developed when children experience consistent care and emotional availability from their caregivers.
A securely attached child is likely to:

• Seek comfort from their caregiver when in distress.
• Feel assured in their caregiver's presence, allowing them to explore their surroundings.
• Regard their caregiver as a safe base for returning after exploration.
• Show happiness and comfort upon the caregiver's return after a separation.

Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment significantly contributed to understanding this attachment style, highlighting that secure attachment fosters a foundation for positive relationships in adulthood.

Insecure Avoidant

Insecure avoidant attachment emerges when a child learns to minimize displays of emotion in response to inconsistent or suppressive caregiving. Such children may become self-reliant, placing less emphasis on the caregiver for emotional support. This style can develop when caregivers tend to be emotionally unavailable or unresponsive.
Children with this attachment style might:

• Avoid seeking help or comfort from their caregiver.
• Appear indifferent to the caregiver's presence or return.
• Explore independently without using the caregiver as a secure base.
• Have a dismissive attitude towards needs for closeness.

In the Strange Situation study, insecure avoidant children showed minimal emotional response during separations and reunions, which can project into adulthood as difficulty forming intimate connections.

Insecure Ambivalent-Resistant

Insecure ambivalent-resistant attachment involves fluctuating feelings of dependency and anger towards the caregiver. This may occur due to inconsistent caregiving, where the child's needs are sometimes met and sometimes ignored. The child may then feel uncertain if care will be available, leading to clinginess and difficulty in exploring.

• Children in this category exhibit anxiety about the caregiver's availability and responsiveness.
• They show extreme distress during separations.
• Upon reunion, they may resist comforting while simultaneously seeking closeness.
• This style often results in little exploration of the environment as the child remains focused on the caregiver.

The "clingy and angry" nature of these children in the Strange Situation task signals emotional conflicts, leading to future relationships often characterized by insecurity and dependency.

Disorganized Attachment

Disorganized attachment is marked by a lack of consistent behavioral pattern in the child's interactions with the caregiver. This attachment style is typically the result of frightening or erratic behavior from the caregiver, leaving the child confused and unable to develop a coherent strategy for emotional regulation. As a result, the child may exhibit a mix of avoidance and resistance, often appearing dazed or apprehensive. Some common characteristics of disorganized attachment include:

• The child may freeze, kick, and throw tantrums when approaching the caregiver.
• Behaviors are often contradictory, such as seeking proximity while displaying fear.
• There's a lack of structured attachment strategy.
• Difficulties in maintaining attention and managing emotions.

Such insecure patterns laid in childhood can transform into maladaptive coping strategies in adult relationships, often characterized by confusion, fear, and unpredictability.