In the Strange Situation, a sign of insecure attachment might be _____.
A) smiling at Mother when she returns to the room
B) crying and unable to be comforted when Mother returns
C) seeking contact with Mother when reunited
D) playing happily as long as Mother is present

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crying and being unable to be comforted upon Mother's return is an indicator of insecure attachment. This is known as anxious-resistant attachment and occurs when the child has inconsistent and unpredictable experiences with their caregiver, leading to uncertainty and anxiety when separated. Smiling at Mother upon return (A) and seeking contact with Mother when reunited (C) are signs of secure attachment, while playing happily with Mother present (D) is not necessarily indicative of attachment style.

In the Strange Situation, a Sign of Insecure Attachment Might