Maria is left alone by her mother in the experiment known as the Strange Situation. She

Question

attempts to follow her mother but is blocked by the closed door.

She falls to the ground crying
and screaming loudly and does not play with any of the toys in the room. When her mother
returns, attempting to comfort and soothe her, she pushes her away and continues to cry.
Which style of attachment is Maria demonstrating?
a. Secure attachment—she is clearly demonstrating her attachment to her mother by her continued
distress when the mother leaves.
b. Insecure avoidant attachment—she is showing that she avoids the mother upon her return and
will not accept comfort from her.
c. Insecure ambivalent attachment—she is both distressed when her mother leaves and angry at
her for leaving as shown in her refusal tobe comforted by her upon her return.
d. Insecure disorganized attachment—she has feelings of both loss when her mother leaves and
feelings of anger when her mother returns.

Answer 1

c. Insecure ambivalent attachment—she is both distressed when her mother leaves and
angry at her for leaving as shown in her refusal to be comforted by her upon her return.