Final answer:
Secure attachment is the term for a relationship in which a child receives comfort and confidence from their caregiver, characterized by the child's preference for the caregiver over strangers and their use as a secure base for exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
A relationship in which an infant obtains both comfort and confidence from the presence of his or her caregiver is called secure attachment. In secure attachment, children prefer their parents over strangers and use them as a secure base to explore their environment. The caregivers of securely attached children are responsive and sensitive to their needs, which helps in the healthy psychosocial development of the child.
Research conducted by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth highlights the importance of secure attachment and the role it plays in the normal social and emotional development of a child. Whereas, children with avoidant attachment show indifference to their parents, and those with resistant attachment show clinginess followed by a rejection of attempts to interact by the caregiver, indicating an inconsistent care response level.