Brandon is being tested in the Strange Situation.When his mother leaves the room,Brandon becomes very upset and cries.When his mother returns,he goes to her,but angrily refuses to be comforted.Mary Ainsworth would say that Brandon has
A)a secure attachment to his mother.
B)an insecure-avoidant attachment to his mother.
C)an insecure-resistant/ambivalent attachment to his mother.
D)a disoriented/disorganized attachment to his mother.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brandon's behavior of becoming upset when his mother leaves and then angrily refusing to be comforted when she returns suggests that he has an attachment style that is insecure and ambivalent/resistant. This is characterized by a child's fear of separation from the caregiver and mixed reactions upon their return. This behavior is distinct from a secure attachment style in which the child will use the caregiver as a secure base for exploration and seek comfort upon their return. It is also distinct from an insecure-avoidant attachment style in which the child avoids the caregiver upon their return. Finally, a disoriented/disorganized attachment style is characterized by inconsistent or contradictory behavior in the Strange Situation test, such as approaching the caregiver but simultaneously looking away or freezing.

Brandon Is Being Tested in the Strange Situation