Question

Alma was tested in a strange situation paradigm. She became very upset when her mother left the room and would not interact with the research assistant. However, she quickly calmed down when her mother returned and continued playing after a few minutes. Alma's attachment would be categorized as

a) Secure
b) Insecure-avoidant
c) Insecure-ambivalent
d) Disorganized

Answer 1

Alma's behavior in the Strange Situation shows she has a secure attachment style, as she was upset when her mother left but calmed down and resumed playing when her mother returned.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alma's attachment would be categorized as secure attachment. In the Strange Situation experiment, securely attached children become distressed when their caregivers leave the room, but they become happy and seek interaction when their caregivers return. These children use their caregivers as a secure base to explore the environment and are sensitive and responsive to their needs.

Based on Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation paradigm, a child who is distressed when their caregiver leaves the room but quickly calms down and resumes playing when the caregiver returns, demonstrates characteristics of secure attachment. This type of attachment indicates that the child uses the parent as a secure base and shows a strong preference for the parent over a stranger, signaling a healthy attachment pattern where the caregiver is sensitive and responsive to the child's needs.