Final answer:
In the protest phase of separation anxiety, a young child is most likely to exhibit behavior of clinging to the parent, consistent with resistant attachment, as they seek comfort and fear abandonment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering which behavior would most likely be manifested in a young child experiencing the protest phase of separation anxiety, the behavior most commonly observed is clinging to the parent. In the context of resistant attachment as described by Ainsworth & Bell (1970), children tend to show clingy behavior during a separation and become extremely disturbed and angry. They may also reject the attachment figure's attempts to interact with them when they return, making the children difficult to comfort. This form of attachment often results from the caregivers' inconsistent responses to their child's needs, which intertwines with the protest phase of separation anxiety, where clinging is a natural response to the fear of abandonment and an attempt to maintain proximity to the attachment figure.