Final answer:
Attachment patterns in infants are not determined solely by whether they are in daycare or cared for at home. Secure attachment relies on caregivers being sensitive and responsive, while other factors like temperament and culture can also play a role. Thus, attachment security cannot be attributed to the childcare setting alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Studies comparing attachment in infants who attended daycare with those cared for at home have revealed that attachment patterns are not solely determined by the childcare setting. Attachment is categorized into secure, avoidant, resistant, and later, disorganized types. Secure attachment is considered the healthiest, characterized by the toddler using the attachment figure as a secure base to explore the environment and seeking comfort from them in times of stress. A key element to secure attachment is having caregivers who are sensitive and responsive to the child's needs.
However, criticism of Ainsworth's research suggests that other factors such as a child's temperament and cultural differences can influence attachment, meaning that attachment security can be affected by more than just the type of childcare. Therefore, the assertion that daycare infants have less attachment security is too simplistic. Instead, the security of an infant's attachment relies on multifaceted and nuanced aspects of the caregiver-child relationship rather than the setting alone.