Final answer:
A child showing distress, anxiety, and anger when a caregiver leaves is likely demonstrating a resistant attachment style, which arises from inconsistent caregiver responsiveness. These children have trouble being comforted upon reunion and exhibit clingy but rejecting behavior toward the caregiver.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of developmental psychology and attachment theory, when a child shows signs of distress, anxiety, and anger during a caregiver's absence, they may be exhibiting behaviors indicative of a resistant attachment style. Resistant attachment is characterized by a pattern where the child appears clingy and distressed upon separation but resists comforting upon reunion, and the caregiver's inconsistent responsiveness often causes this. This attachment pattern reflects the child's lack of confidence in the availability and responsiveness of the attachment figure.
According to Ainsworth and Bell's research and the Strange Situation experiment, these children are extremely troubled during separation, showing strong reactions such as distress or anger. Upon the caregiver's return, they are often difficult to comfort. This difficulty is attributed to the inconsistent responses they have received from their caregivers, which fails to provide a reliable sense of security and support.
Other attachment styles discussed in attachment theory include secure attachment, avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment, each demonstrating different behaviors in response to caregiver presence and absence. Children with a secure attachment tend to handle separations and reunions positively, while those with an avoidant attachment may show indifference, and children with disorganized attachment demonstrate erratic or unpredictable behavior.