Final answer:
Avoidant children in Mary Ainsworth's studies did not show distress when their mother left the room and was indifferent upon her return, behaving similarly to a stranger. This attachment style is associated with insensitive and inattentive caregiving. Secure attachment is the healthiest form where the child uses the caregiver as a secure base. The answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on Mary Ainsworth's studies, avoidant children did not care if the mother left the room, made little effort to seek contact with her on her return, and treated a stranger in the same way as the mother. In Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment, avoidant children were observed to be unresponsive to the parent, did not use the parent as a secure base, and showed minimal interest when the parent left or returned. The behavior of avoidant children is believed to stem from having caregivers who are insensitive and inattentive to their needs.
The child uses the parent as a base from which to explore her world in the secure attachment style. Secure attachment is characterized by the child's preference for the parent over strangers and seeking the parent in times of stress. Children with secure attachment are responsive to their caregivers and are distressed when their caregivers leave but are happy upon their return.