Question

After being separated from her mom for 13 days, the baby shows AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT behavior at the caregiver's return. How can her behavior be more closely described?

A. The baby uses the mother as a secure base from which to explore the environment
B. The baby resists the caregiver, perhaps kicks and pushes away.
C. The baby seems confused, may physically approach the mother but not look at her.
D. The baby ignores the caregiver, avoids direct contact."

Answer 1

The baby showing Avoidant Attachment behavior after being separated from her mother suggests she is ignoring the caregiver and avoids direct contact upon the mother's return.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering attachment behaviors in infants and toddlers, Avoidant Attachment is characterized by the child appearing indifferent to the caregiver's presence or absence. The child does not utilize the caregiver as a secure base for exploration, and is not visibly comforted when the caregiver returns after an absence.

This behavior could be more closely described as the baby ignoring the caregiver and avoiding direct contact, corresponding to option D in the question. Mary Ainsworth's seminal work using the Strange Situation procedure provided insight into such attachment styles, indicating that avoidant attachment could be the result of having a caregiver who is insensitive or inattentive to the child's needs.

In contrast, Secure Attachment would involve the child using the parent as a secure base from which to explore, which is answer A in the follow-up question provided, and is the healthiest form of attachment. Resistant Attachment involves the child showing clingy behavior but rejecting the caregiver upon their attempt to interact, which is not the behavior described in the original situation.