According to Ainsworth, if a caregiver is inconsistently available yet provides overbearing amounts of affection when she is present, the infant will not be able to predict when and how the caregiver will respond and will cling anxiously to the caregiver and then fight against this closeness by pushing away. This type of attachment would be described as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This behavior is characteristic of an ambivalent attachment style, according to Ainsworth's attachment theory. In ambivalent attachment, the child experiences inconsistency from the caregiver, leading to anxiety and mixed behaviors of seeking and resisting closeness.

According to Ainsworth, If a Caregiver Is Inconsistently Available Yet