Attachment Styles

Which is NOT a component of attachment

• Care Seeking

• Exploration

• Care Giving

• Pleasure

Answer explanation

Care Seeking (Attachment)

An instinct, throughout the life span, to seek proximity to a specific person who will comfort, protect, and/or help organize one’s feelings (Circle of Security, n.d.).

2. Caregiving (Bonding)

An instinct to monitor a specific person, and to comfort, protect, and/or organize that person’s feeling when necessary (Circle of Security, n.d.).

3. Exploration (Autonomy)

An instinct to follow one’s innate curiosity and desire for mastery, when it feels safe to do so.

Child is confused with no strategy to have their needs met. Which attachment style?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

Disorganized Attachment

Parent is either frightened of the child or frightening to the child (or both)

A breakdown in organized behavior by the child when needing to seek comfort and protection from the attachment figure, particularly when under stress.

Lack of clear attachment behavior; often a mix of behaviors, including avoidance or resistance.

These children are described as displaying dazed behavior, sometimes seeming either confused or apprehensive in the presence of a parent

Child seeks comfort when scared. Which attachment type?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

Secure Attachment

Able to separate from parent – may experience appropriate distress

Happy when parent returns

Seeks comfort when scared

Parents of securely attached children react quickly to their children's needs

More empathetic during later stages of childhood.

May be described as less disruptive, less aggressive, and more mature than children with ambivalent or avoidant attachment styles.

Child show a lack of clear attachment behavior. Which attachment type?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

Disorganized Attachment

Parent is either frightened of the child or frightening to the child (or both)

A breakdown in organized behavior by the child when needing to seek comfort and protection from the attachment figure, particularly when under stress.

Lack of clear attachment behavior; often a mix of behaviors, including avoidance or resistance.

These children are described as displaying dazed behavior, sometimes seeming either confused or apprehensive in the presence of a parent

Parent is inconsistent – sometimes sensitive sometimes neglectful. Which attachment type?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

Overemphasizes the demonstration of closeness and proximity

Underemphasizes the exploratory aspects of the relationship

Suspicious of strangers

Very stressed when separated from a parent and do not feel safe even after reunited

Child may reject parent through aggression

Later in their childhood, may be described as clingy and over-dependent.

Seeks to keep an inconsistent caregiver available through a heightened display of emotionality and dependence.

This attachment strategy is not considered a risk for significant psychopathology (Attach from Scratch, 2013).

Child shows no preference between a parent and a stranger. Which attachment type?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

Avoidant Attachment

Avoids parents. It is especially noticeable when parent was absent for some time.

Show no preference between a parent and a complete stranger.

Overemphasizes the exploratory aspects of the relationship

Underemphasizing the need for emotional closeness and comfort.

This strategy allows a child to stay as close as possible to the caregiver while expressing a minimum of emotional need.

This attachment strategy is not considered a risk for significant psychopathology

Which attachment style is considered to be a risk factor of significant psychopathology?

• Secure

• Avoidant

• Ambivalent

• Disorganized

Answer explanation

More than any other attachment style, disorganized attachment in childhood can correlate to the presentation of personality disorders later in life.