Which attachment style is not considered one of the three main patterns described?

Which attachment style is not considered one of the three main patterns described?

• A. Secure attachment
• B. Avoidant attachment
• C. Anxious/ambivalent attachments
• D. Disorganized attachment

Answer: (D)

In classic attachment research, the three main patterns described are secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent. A securely attached infant seeks comfort from the caregiver when needed and feels comfortable exploring once the caregiver is present. An insecure-avoidant infant shows little distress during separation and avoids or ignores the caregiver upon reunion. An insecure-anxious (anxious/ambivalent) infant stays highly distressed and is hard to soothe, often showing ambivalence when the caregiver returns. Disorganized attachment, however, is not one of these original three; it’s a later-added pattern that reflects a lack of coherent attachment strategy, with contradictory, disoriented behaviors often tied to frightening or unpredictable caregiving. So disorganized attachment is not part of the three main patterns described.

In classic attachment research, the three main patterns described are secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent. A securely attached infant seeks comfort from the caregiver when needed and feels comfortable exploring once the caregiver is present. An insecure-avoidant infant shows little distress during separation and avoids or ignores the caregiver upon reunion. An insecure-anxious (anxious/ambivalent) infant stays highly distressed and is hard to soothe, often showing ambivalence when the caregiver returns. Disorganized attachment, however, is not one of these original three; it’s a later-added pattern that reflects a lack of coherent attachment strategy, with contradictory, disoriented behaviors often tied to frightening or unpredictable caregiving. So disorganized attachment is not part of the three main patterns described.