Which attachment type is indicated by signs of insecurity and disorientation in the infant?

Which attachment type is indicated by signs of insecurity and disorientation in the infant?

• A. Secure attachment
• B. Anxious resistant attachment
• C. Anxious avoidant attachment
• D. Disorganized disoriented attachment

Answer: (D)

Disorganized disoriented attachment is shown when an infant’s behavior around the caregiver is unsettled and inconsistent, combining signs of insecurity with disorientation. You might see the baby approach the caregiver and then look away, freeze in place, display dazed or stereotyped movements, or show contradictory actions toward the person they depend on for safety. This pattern reflects a lack of a coherent strategy for seeking comfort or exploration, often rooted in a caregiver who is frightening or unpredictable. This differs from secure attachment, where the infant regularly seeks and uses the caregiver as a secure base and then explores confidently. It also differs from anxious-resistant attachment, where the infant clings and then resists comfort, and from anxious-avoidant attachment, where the infant minimizes contact with the caregiver. The disorganized/disoriented pattern best fits the description of insecurity paired with disorientation.

Disorganized disoriented attachment is shown when an infant’s behavior around the caregiver is unsettled and inconsistent, combining signs of insecurity with disorientation. You might see the baby approach the caregiver and then look away, freeze in place, display dazed or stereotyped movements, or show contradictory actions toward the person they depend on for safety. This pattern reflects a lack of a coherent strategy for seeking comfort or exploration, often rooted in a caregiver who is frightening or unpredictable.

This differs from secure attachment, where the infant regularly seeks and uses the caregiver as a secure base and then explores confidently. It also differs from anxious-resistant attachment, where the infant clings and then resists comfort, and from anxious-avoidant attachment, where the infant minimizes contact with the caregiver. The disorganized/disoriented pattern best fits the description of insecurity paired with disorientation.