What are the four attachment styles identified by Mary Ainsworth in her Strange Situation study?

The four attachment styles identified by Mary Ainsworth in her Strange Situation study are indeed secure, insecure avoidant, insecure ambivalent, and disorganized.

In her influential research, Ainsworth observed how infants responded to separations and reunions with their caregivers. Secure attachment is characterized by a healthy bond where the child feels safe and comforted by their caregiver, typically displaying distress when the caregiver leaves and joy upon their return. Insecure avoidant attachment is marked by a lack of visible distress when the caregiver leaves and avoidance upon return, indicating a detachment from the caregiver's presence. Insecure ambivalent attachment shows marked anxiety in the child, with intense distress during separation and difficulty being comforted upon reunion, often displaying clinginess and resistance. Disorganized attachment encompasses a lack of a clear attachment strategy, with behaviors that seem contradictory or confusing, often arising in situations where the caregiver is a source of both comfort and fear.

This categorization provides valuable insights into the emotional and behavioral patterns that form between children and their caregivers, laying foundational understanding for later relationships. The other options present variations that do not accurately reflect Ainsworth’s classifications, lacking the specificity and nuances of her established attachment styles.