Anxious/ambivalent attachments are associated with which reaction when parents leave?

• A. Extreme stress
• B. Calm curiosity
• C. No distress
• D. Quick recovery

Answer: (A)

When a child has anxious/ambivalent attachment, caregiving has been inconsistent or unpredictable, so the child learns that support may or may not be available. That makes separating from a parent feel highly threatening. The departure triggers intense distress because the child cannot rely on the caregiver to be there when needed, leading to strong emotional anguish and protest during separation. This pattern fits extreme stress as the best description of the reaction.

In contrast, calm curiosity would reflect a sense of security and the ability to explore even when a parent is present. No distress aligns more with avoidant patterns, where the child minimizes outward emotion. Quick recovery is typical of secure attachments, where the child settles after separation more easily. The anxious/ambivalent response is defined by prolonged, heightened distress at separation.