C.7 ATTACHMENT THEORIES

Which best defines attachment according to Ainsworth?
A. A learned social skill for exploration
B. Reciprocal, enduring emotional tie between infant and caregiver
C. Dependence of a child on toys and peers
D. Temporary response to separation

B Reciprocal, enduring emotional tie between infant and caregiver

In Ainsworth’s Strange Situation, what is being assessed?
A. Cognitive abilities
B. Attachment patterns
C. Temperament
D. Separation individuation

B Attachment patterns

When a child cries as soon as the mother leaves the room, this is called:
A. Stranger Anxiety
B. Social Referencing
C. Separation Protest
D. Detachment

C Separation Protest

A toddler looks at her mother’s reaction before playing with a stranger. This demonstrates:
A. Mutual Regulation
B. Social Referencing
C. Protest Phase
D. Object Constancy

B Social Referencing

Which refers to infant and caregiver responding sensitively to each other’s states?
A. Secure Base
B. Stranger Anxiety
C. Mutual Regulation
D. Rapprochement

C Mutual Regulation

Securely attached infants show:
A. Indifference when the mother returns
B. Distress at separation, joy at reunion
C. Extreme suspicion and lack of comfort
D. Disorganized, confused behaviors

B Distress at separation, joy at reunion

Which attachment style describes children who show no preference between caregiver and stranger?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant (Type A)
C. Ambivalent (Type C)
D. Disorganized (Type D)

B Avoidant (Type A)

A child is extremely suspicious of strangers, cries when the mother leaves, and is not comforted when she returns. This fits:
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent/Resistant
D. Disorganized

C Ambivalent/Resistant

A toddler shows contradictory behaviors like approaching but avoiding eye contact with the caregiver. Which type?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

D Disorganized

Parenting style linked to Secure attachment is:
A. Frightened
B. Rejecting
C. Sensitive and responsive
D. Inconsistent

C Sensitive and responsive

Inconsistent and unresponsive parenting often leads to:
A. Avoidant attachment
B. Ambivalent attachment
C. Secure attachment
D. Disorganized attachment

A Avoidant attachment

Rejecting or overly intrusive parenting results in:
A. Secure
B. Ambivalent
C. Avoidant
D. Disorganized

B Ambivalent

Frightened or frightening caregivers usually cause:
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

D Disorganized

At birth to 3 months, infants maintain closeness through reflexes like sucking. Which stage?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 5

A Stage 1

A baby is more responsive to familiar figures than strangers (3–6 months). Which stage?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5

B Stage 2

At 6–9 months, infants actively seek physical proximity. This corresponds to:
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5

B Stage 3

At 9–12 months, infants develop mental representations of their caregiver. This is:
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5

C Stage 4

At 12+ months, children use various behaviors to influence caregivers for safety. Which stage?
A. Stage 3
B. Stage 4
C. Stage 5
D. Stage 1

C Stage 5

What is the Attachment Behavior System according to Bowlby?
A. A child’s genetic instinct to avoid danger
B. Reflexes and signals eliciting caregiving responses
C. Emotional independence
D. A learned behavior through reinforcement

B Reflexes and signals eliciting caregiving responses

When a child feels secure, what happens?
A. Attachment system activated
B. Exploratory system deactivated
C. Exploratory system activated
D. Separation anxiety increases

C Exploratory system activated

Bowlby emphasized that attachment is a:
A. Secondary drive
B. Primary drive
C. Socially learned behavior
D. Temporary dependency

B Primary drive

Bowlby’s principle of monotropy refers to:
A. Needing multiple caregivers equally
B. Attachment to one significant person
C. Attachment only to father
D. Attachment only to peer group

B Attachment to one significant person

Bowlby’s internal working model means:
A. A baby imagines playing roles in society
B. Expectation of caregiver’s availability/responsiveness
C. A symbolic play scheme
D. Motor practice

B Expectation of caregiver’s availability/responsiveness

Which stage of separation anxiety is marked by crying and resistance to others’ comfort?
A. Protest
B. Despair
C. Detachment
D. Regression

A Protest

A child becomes passive, sad, and apathetic during prolonged separation. Which stage?
A. Protest
B. Despair
C. Detachment
D. Secure base

B Despair

In detachment, the child:
A. Cries continuously
B. Becomes emotionally detached
C. Shows anger toward strangers
D. Develops stranger anxiety

B Becomes emotionally detached

What is Mahler’s concept of psychological birth?
A. Actual delivery at birth
B. Process of achieving relative independence
C. Becoming emotionally detached permanently
D. Socialization into culture

B Process of achieving relative independence

Separation refers to:
A. Biological cutting of umbilical cord
B. Internal process of mental separation from mother
C. Becoming physically distant only
D. Caregiver leaving for work

B Internal process of mental separation from mother

Individuation means:
A. Becoming aware of cultural identity
B. Developing self-concept and individuality
C. Acting rebelliously in adolescence
D. Depending on peers

B Developing self-concept and individuality

Which phase describes a baby as if "inside their own egg shell"?
A. Normal Autistic Phase
B. Normal Symbiotic Phase
C. Differentiation
D. Practicing

A Normal Autistic Phase

In the Normal Symbiotic Phase (1–5 months), the infant:
A. Shows no awareness of caregiver
B. Recognizes mother but no individuality
C. Fully separates from mother
D. Develops stranger anxiety

B Recognizes mother but no individuality

Which phase begins at 5–24 months and focuses on self-boundaries?
A. Normal Autistic
B. Symbiotic
C. Separation-Individuation
D. Object Constancy

C Separation-Individuation

A child becomes alert and differentiates from the mother’s body (5–10 months). Which subphase?
A. Practicing
B. Differentiation (Hatching)
C. Rapprochement
D. Object Constancy

B Differentiation (Hatching)

In which subphase does the infant enjoy independence through crawling and walking (10–16 months)?
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Symbiotic

B Practicing

“Love affair with the world” best describes:
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Detachment

B Practicing

A 20-month-old clings to the mother, throws tantrums, yet still explores. Which subphase?
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Object Constancy

C Rapprochement

Object constancy means:
A. Mother ceases to exist when absent
B. Understanding caregiver exists even if absent
C. Repeated protest when left
D. Lack of secure base

B Understanding caregiver exists even if absent

At which age is Object Constancy achieved?
A. 5–10 months
B. 10–16 months
C. 16–24 months
D. 24+ months

D 24+ months

Which theory highlights the caregiver’s sensitivity as the key factor?
A. Freud’s Psychosexual Theory
B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
C. Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory
D. Skinner’s Behaviorism

C Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory

A 9-month-old cries intensely when the mother leaves but calms when she returns. Which attachment style?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

A Secure

A 2-year-old plays independently but runs back to mother for reassurance. Bowlby would call this:
A. Protest Phase
B. Secure Base
C. Object Constancy
D. Detachment

B Secure Base

Which best compares Mahler and Bowlby?
A. Bowlby focused on internal drives; Mahler on environment
B. Bowlby emphasized caregiver responsiveness; Mahler focused on psychological birth and individuation
C. Mahler stressed monotropy; Bowlby stressed object constancy
D. Both ignored caregiver roles

B Bowlby emphasized caregiver responsiveness; Mahler focused on psychological birth and individuation

A toddler avoids eye contact with mother upon reunion after stress. Likely attachment style:
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

B Avoidant

A preschooler confidently explores a playground while glancing back at father. This demonstrates:
A. Mutual Regulation
B. Secure Base behavior
C. Social Referencing
D. Object Constancy

B Secure Base behavior

Which Mahler subphase relates most to Erikson’s Autonomy vs. Shame?
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Object Constancy

B Practicing

In the Strange Situation, which child is most distressed by a stranger?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

C Ambivalent

Which of the following is NOT part of Bowlby’s separation anxiety stages?
A. Protest
B. Despair
C. Detachment
D. Social Referencing

D Social Referencing

In the Normal Autistic Phase, the infant is:
A. Fully aware of mother
B. Engrossed in self with little social engagement
C. Differentiating self from mother
D. Seeking physical closeness

B Engrossed in self with little social engagement

Which theory introduces the Internal Working Model concept?
A. Freud
B. Erikson
C. Bowlby
D. Mahler

C Bowlby

Which style is Type B in Ainsworth’s classification?
A. Avoidant
B. Secure
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

B Secure

Which style is Type A in Ainsworth’s classification?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

B Avoidant

Which style is Type C in Ainsworth’s classification?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

C Ambivalent

Which style is Type D in Ainsworth’s classification?
A. Secure
B. Avoidant
C. Ambivalent
D. Disorganized

D Disorganized

Mahler’s “customs inspection” happens in:
A. Symbiotic Phase
B. Differentiation Subphase
C. Practicing Subphase
D. Object Constancy

B Differentiation Subphase

A child forms an expectation that the caregiver will return after absence. Which concept?
A. Protest
B. Secure Base
C. Internal Working Model
D. Stranger Anxiety

C Internal Working Model

At which stage does stranger anxiety usually peak?
A. Stage 1 (0–3 months)
B. Stage 2 (3–6 months)
C. Stage 3 (6–9 months)
D. Stage 5 (12+ months)

C Stage 3 (6–9 months)

Which Bowlby concept explains why children stop crying and explore once secure?
A. Deactivation of attachment system, activation of exploratory system
B. Symbiotic relationship
C. Practicing subphase
D. Rapprochement

A Deactivation of attachment system, activation of exploratory system

Which theory highlights both separation and individuation as critical processes?
A. Freud
B. Erikson
C. Mahler
D. Ainsworth

C Mahler

In Mahler’s Rapprochement phase, what often happens?
A. Infants ignore mother
B. Children alternate between independence and clinging
C. Infants stay symbiotic
D. Object constancy develops fully

B Children alternate between independence and clinging

Which attachment theory concept aligns closest with Erikson’s Trust vs. Mistrust?
A. Object Constancy
B. Secure vs. Insecure Attachment
C. Protest Phase
D. Differentiation

B Secure vs. Insecure Attachment

Which theorist emphasized attachment as a primary drive?
A. Freud
B. Skinner
C. Bowlby
D. Mahler

C Bowlby

“Egg extends to include the mother” best describes:
A. Autistic Phase
B. Symbiotic Phase
C. Differentiation
D. Practicing

B Symbiotic Phase

A baby pushes mother’s face to explore while still returning for comfort. Which phase?
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Object Constancy

A Differentiation

Which is a hallmark of Disorganized Attachment?
A. Neutrality toward strangers
B. Mixed, contradictory responses to caregiver
C. Comforted easily upon reunion
D. Strong preference for familiar caregiver

B Mixed, contradictory responses to caregiver

At 24+ months, a toddler still panics every time mother leaves, not recalling her existence. This shows failure in:
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Object Constancy
D. Mutual Regulation

C Object Constancy

Which of these is a situational example of Separation Anxiety – Protest?
A. A baby refusing to eat when mom leaves for work
B. A child crying and clinging as the mother exits daycare
C. A toddler ignoring mom when she comes back
D. A preschooler exploring confidently without mom

B A child crying and clinging as the mother exits daycare

Which is a situational example of Despair stage?
A. Toddler screams at daycare drop-off
B. Infant becomes quiet and passive after hours of separation
C. Baby happily greets mom after she returns
D. Child clings to caregiver when frightened

B Infant becomes quiet and passive after hours of separation

Which is a situational example of Detachment stage?
A. Baby avoids hugging mom upon reunion
B. Toddler constantly cries when dad leaves
C. Child smiles at strangers only
D. Infant focuses only on self

A Baby avoids hugging mom upon reunion

Which caregiver behavior is most likely to foster secure attachment?
A. Ignoring child when upset
B. Responding inconsistently
C. Being sensitive and responsive
D. Displaying frightening reactions

C Being sensitive and responsive

If a child explores freely but checks back frequently for emotional “refueling,” Mahler would call this:
A. Differentiation
B. Practicing
C. Rapprochement
D. Secure Base behavior

B Practicing