Final answer:
The described adult attachment style with fear of abandonment, desire for closeness, jealousy, and intermittent rejection indicates a preoccupied attachment style. Secure attachment, in contrast, is healthier and involves using a caregiver as a base for exploration. Avoidant, resistant, and disorganized styles exhibit other specific behaviors and arise from different caregiving responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The adult attachment style described by the student, characterized by a fear of abandonment by a partner, being overly pushy for closeness and very jealous, and intermittently rejecting of the partner, aligns with a preoccupied attachment style. Preoccupied individuals often experience high levels of anxiety in relationships and an intense desire for closeness, leading to jealousy and attempts to control or possess the partner. This stems from a fear of abandonment and a feeling of unworthiness. The most common and considered the healthiest attachment style is the secure attachment, where an individual uses the attachment figure as a secure base to explore and prefers the parent over a stranger during times of stress, as observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment.
In contrast, the avoidant attachment is characterized by indifference and a lack of response to the parent, not using the parent as a secure base, as seen in Ainsworth's theory, where caregivers are typically insensitive to the child's needs. Resistant attachment is shown through clingy behavior with rejection upon interaction, resulting from caregivers' inconsistent response to the child's needs. Disorganized attachment is observed in children who behave without a clear strategy, such as freezing or erratic behavior when a caregiver returns, and is often associated with abuse.
Attachment styles can influence behavior in adult relationships, and understanding these can be essential for resolving interpersonal issues and achieving a healthier dynamic.