Which attachment style involves infants who appear to prefer distance and show minimal distress during separation?

Which attachment style involves infants who appear to prefer distance and show minimal distress during separation?

• A. Anxious-Resistant Attachment
• B. Anxious Avoidant Attachment
• C. Disorganized-Disoriented Attachment
• D. Play

Answer: (B)

This item tests how infant attachment styles are shown in responses to separation and reunion with the caregiver. The description of preferring distance and showing minimal distress during separation fits Anxious-Avoidant attachment. Infants with this pattern tend to maintain emotional distance, do not seek comfort from the caregiver when they return, and may continue exploring or playing without seeking reassurance. This contrasts with a few other patterns: Anxious-Resistant infants become very distressed when the caregiver leaves and have mixed, often resistant, reactions at reunions. Disorganized-Disoriented infants show confused, disoriented behaviors that don’t fit a clear pattern. And “Play” isn’t an attachment style; it’s a behavior context, not the pattern of how infants relate to the caregiver after separation.

This item tests how infant attachment styles are shown in responses to separation and reunion with the caregiver. The description of preferring distance and showing minimal distress during separation fits Anxious-Avoidant attachment. Infants with this pattern tend to maintain emotional distance, do not seek comfort from the caregiver when they return, and may continue exploring or playing without seeking reassurance. This contrasts with a few other patterns: Anxious-Resistant infants become very distressed when the caregiver leaves and have mixed, often resistant, reactions at reunions. Disorganized-Disoriented infants show confused, disoriented behaviors that don’t fit a clear pattern. And “Play” isn’t an attachment style; it’s a behavior context, not the pattern of how infants relate to the caregiver after separation.