What type of attachment style is indicated by a child who both approaches and avoids the mother in a stressful situation?

A child who both approaches and avoids the mother in a stressful situation is exhibiting characteristics of disorganized attachment. This attachment style often appears when a child experiences conflicting behaviors; for instance, the child may seek comfort from the caregiver but simultaneously display fear or confusion about the caregiver’s response. This contradictory behavior typically arises from inconsistent or unpredictable parenting, where the caregiver may be a source of comfort at times and a source of fear at others.

Disorganized attachment is characterized by a lack of a coherent strategy in dealing with stress, resulting in mixed signals. The child may struggle to form a clear strategy for seeking support or expressing their needs, leading to the approach-avoidance pattern. This behavior reflects an internal conflict within the child regarding their feelings of safety and security with the caregiver.

In contrast, secure attachment would involve the child seeking comfort and support consistently when distressed, while avoidant attachment leads to the child minimizing contact or emotional expression when faced with stress. Resistant attachment usually involves the child clinging to the caregiver and displaying heightened distress, often without the confusion seen in disorganized attachment. These distinctions highlight why the child's behavior aligns closely with disorganized attachment.