Final answer:
Adult attachment patterns are indeed used to understand close relationships and reflect early attachment experiences from childhood, making option c the correct answer. Attachment styles in adults are related to those in early childhood and are not directly assessed through the 'Strange Situation' procedure meant for infants.
Step-by-step explanation:
You asked which of the following statements about attachment styles across the lifespan is true. The correct answer is c. adult attachment patterns have been used by researchers to gain insight into close relationships. While the ‘Strange Situation’ procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth is used primarily for studying attachment styles in infants, different methodologies are used for adults. Moreover, it has been shown in multiple studies that attachment patterns observed in adults are related to those in early childhood, often reflecting early attachment experiences.
In cases of resistant attachment, for example, children express clingy behavior and show difficulty in being comforted upon reunion with the attachment figure. These attachment patterns provide valuable insights into behaviors in adult relationships, highlighting the importance of childhood experiences for lifespan development.
Adult attachment styles indeed relate back to the way adults were attached as children, contrary to choice d. Therefore, choice b is also incorrect as adult attachment styles are measured differently than with the 'Strange Situation' procedure, and despite criticisms, attachment theory continues to be a respected approach within developmental psychology.