26. Emily and her mother have entered a new place. There are toys on the floor to play with, but no one else is in the room. After a few months on her mothers lap, Emily begins to move toward the toys and is soon playing happily while her mother reads a magazine. When a stranger enters the room, Emily looks at her mother's face to see how she reacts. She also walks over to her mother and touches her lap, staying close for a few moments. As the stranger and her mother begin to converse, Emily returns to the toys. According to Mary Ainsworth, Emily is _______________. 


A. an avoidant child

B. a disorganized-disoriented child

C. an ambivalent child

D. a securely attached child
I think its A

I disagree.

I think you have a typo in the third sentence.

Its between B and D ... so im going with D

If "months" is changed to "moments," I would agree with D.

To determine which answer choice is correct, we need to understand the different attachment styles proposed by Mary Ainsworth. According to Ainsworth's attachment theory, there are four main attachment styles:

1. Secure attachment: Babies who have a secure attachment style feel comfortable exploring their environment when their caregiver is present, and they seek proximity and comfort from their caregiver when they need it. They trust their caregiver's availability and responsiveness.

2. Avoidant attachment: Babies with an avoidant attachment style often appear indifferent to their caregiver's presence or absence. They show little distress when separated from their caregiver and may not seek comfort from them upon reunion. Their preference is often to explore and engage with the environment, rather than the caregiver.

3. Ambivalent attachment: Babies with an ambivalent attachment style tend to be anxious and uncertain in their interactions with their caregiver. They are reluctant to explore their surroundings and may show excessive distress when separated from their caregiver. They seek proximity to their caregiver but may also exhibit resistance when the caregiver tries to comfort them.

4. Disorganized-disoriented attachment: Babies with a disorganized-disoriented attachment style show inconsistent and erratic behavior toward their caregiver. They may display contradictory actions, such as seeking proximity while simultaneously avoiding or being afraid of their caregiver. This attachment style is often associated with parental neglect, abuse, or other traumatic experiences.

Based on the given information, Emily looked at her mother's face to see how she reacted when the stranger entered the room. She also walked over to her mother and touched her lap, indicating a seeking of proximity and reassurance. However, once the conversation between her mother and the stranger began, Emily returned to playing with the toys. This behavior suggests that Emily feels secure in her attachment with her mother, as she is able to explore her environment, seek comfort when needed, and feel secure enough to engage in independent play.

Therefore, the correct answer in this scenario would be D. a securely attached child.