Question

What would you expect from 18-month-old children with secure attachments after their parents leave them alone with you in a room?

A. They would try to bring the parents back into the room
B. They would immediately run to you and sit on your lap
C. They would become more inquisitive
D. They would not notice the parents' absence
E. They would become aggressive and violent

Answer 1

18-month-old children with secure attachments are expected to try to bring their parents back into the room after their departure, reflecting their use of the parent as a secure base and ability to be comforted upon return.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on Mary Ainsworth's attachment theory, 18-month-old children with secure attachments are likely to be distressed by the absence of their parents when left alone in a new environment, such as being in the care of a stranger. However, these children use their caregivers as a secure base and are typically able to be comforted on the caregivers' return, deeming response option A as the expected behavior. They might try to bring their parents back into the room by looking for them or signaling their desire for their return, but they do not become excessively clingy or aggressive. When the attachment figure returns, securely attached children are generally relieved and happy to see them. They are distinguished from those with resistant attachment, who show extreme distress and are hard to comfort, or avoidant and disorganized attachments, where children may show indifference or erratic behavior respectively.