Question

In the context of infants, a difference between avoidant attachment and ambivalent/resistant attachment styles is that infants who

a. show avoidant attachment cling to their mothers upon reunion after being separated, while infants who display ambivalent/resistant attachment ignore their mothers upon reunion after being separated.
b.
show avoidant attachment are least distressed by their mother’s departure, while infants who display ambivalent/resistant attachment are severely distressed when they are separated from their mothers.

c. show avoidant attachment display contradictory behavior toward an attachment figure unlike infants who show ambivalent/resistant attachment.
d. show avoidant attachment are more emotional than infants who display ambivalent/resistant attachment.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

**b. show avoidant attachment are least distressed by their mother’s departure, while infants who display ambivalent/resistant attachment are severely distressed when they are separated from their mothers.**

In attachment theory, avoidant attachment is characterized by a lack of distress when the caregiver leaves and avoidance of the caregiver upon return. In contrast, ambivalent/resistant attachment is characterized by high levels of distress when the caregiver leaves and difficulty settling down even upon the caregiver's return.