On her first day at a new child care center, 2-year-old Martha is quite upset when her father leaves to go to work. When Dad returns that afternoon, Martha runs to him for a hug but then soon pushes Dad away. Martha's behavior is most consistent with a(n):

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Martha's behavior of seeking comfort from her father upon his return but then pushing him away is indicative of an insecure-resistant attachment. This pattern is characterized by ambivalence; the child may show strong attachment behaviors but also resist closeness, reflecting uncertainty about the reliability of the caregiver's response.

On Her First Day at a New Child Care Center