During the Strange Situation, 15-month-old Sean stays close to mom. When mom leaves the room, he cries. He notices when mom returns to the room, and he wants to be near her. But when she picks him up, he tries to get away by pushing her. How would you classify Sean's attachment to his mother?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An ambivalent attachment pattern is a style of attachment in which a child displays a combination of positive and negative reactions to the mother; the child shows great distress when the mother leaves, but on her return the child may simultaneously seek close contact but also hit and kick her.

During the Strange Situation, 15-Month-Old Sean Stays Close to Mom