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

The identification of the four types of attachment by Mary Ainsworth in her Strange Situation study is a foundational concept in developmental psychology. Ainsworth's research categorized children's responses to separation and reunion with their caregiver into four distinct attachment styles: secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized.

A secure attachment is characterized by children who feel safe and comfortable exploring their environment while using their caregiver as a secure base. Avoidant attachment describes children who show little distress when separated and tend to avoid their caregiver upon reunion. Ambivalent attachment is marked by intense anxiety and a lack of exploration, with children exhibiting clingy behavior and difficulty calming down when the caregiver returns. Lastly, disorganized attachment reflects a lack of a clear attachment strategy, often resulting from inconsistent or frightening behaviors from the caregiver.

This typology is significant as it helps in understanding how early relationships affect children's emotional and social development. The other options do not accurately represent Ainsworth's findings; they include terms that are not part of the established attachment theory and miss the critical dimensions Ainsworth focused on in her study.