A child who is unresponsive to the caregiver and does not use the caregiver as a secure base exhibits which attachment style?

A child who is unresponsive to the caregiver and does not use the caregiver as a secure base exhibits which attachment style?

• A. Avoidant attachment
• B. Secure attachment
• C. Ambivalent & Anxious attachment
• D. Disorganized attachment

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how a child uses the caregiver as a secure base and how they seek comfort. When a child is unresponsive to the caregiver and does not use the caregiver as a secure base, this signals avoidant attachment. In avoidant patterns, the child tends to minimize closeness, avoids seeking help or comfort from the caregiver, and appears indifferent to the caregiver’s presence, even in moments that would typically prompt care-seeking. This contrasts with secure attachment, where the child actively seeks comfort and uses the caregiver as a safe base to explore; ambivalent/anxious attachment, where the child is distressed and seeks comfort but is also resistant; and disorganized attachment, where behavior is inconsistent or disoriented. The described behavior directly aligns with the avoidant pattern.

The key idea here is how a child uses the caregiver as a secure base and how they seek comfort. When a child is unresponsive to the caregiver and does not use the caregiver as a secure base, this signals avoidant attachment. In avoidant patterns, the child tends to minimize closeness, avoids seeking help or comfort from the caregiver, and appears indifferent to the caregiver’s presence, even in moments that would typically prompt care-seeking. This contrasts with secure attachment, where the child actively seeks comfort and uses the caregiver as a safe base to explore; ambivalent/anxious attachment, where the child is distressed and seeks comfort but is also resistant; and disorganized attachment, where behavior is inconsistent or disoriented. The described behavior directly aligns with the avoidant pattern.