Final answer:
A 9-month-old child exhibiting active proximity seeking typically indicates secure attachment, which develops when caregivers are responsive and sensitive to the child's needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 9 months old child who actively seeks close contact with the caretaker is in the Active Proximity Seeking stage of attachment. This behavior is characteristic of secure attachment, where the attachment figure is used as a secure base to explore the environment and is sought out in times of stress. According to attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and later expanded by Mary Ainsworth, secure attachment forms when a caregiver is responsive to the child's needs, allowing the child to develop a sense of safety and security. The Strange Situation procedure, developed by Ainsworth, has shown that securely attached children become distressed when separated from their caregivers but are quickly comforted upon their return.