Which of the following is true about attachment styles?

• A. Avoidant attachment is characterized by a strong desire for closeness and fear of abandonment.
• B. Disorganized attachment is the most common attachment style in the general population.
• C. Secure attachment is associated with healthy emotional regulation and positive relationships.
• D. Anxious attachment is marked by indifference toward caregivers and little emotional response.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of attachment styles, which are patterns of how individuals form emotional bonds and interact in relationships, especially based on early caregiver interactions.
2. Step 2: Review the characteristics of each attachment style: Secure attachment involves comfort with intimacy and trust; Avoidant attachment involves discomfort with closeness and emotional distance; Anxious attachment involves fear of abandonment and heightened emotional responses; Disorganized attachment involves a lack of clear attachment behavior, often linked to trauma.
3. Step 3: Evaluate each statement against these definitions: For example, avoidant attachment is not characterized by a strong desire for closeness but rather by avoidance of it.
4. Step 4: Recognize that secure attachment is indeed associated with healthy emotional regulation and positive relationships, making that statement true.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct statement is the one about secure attachment, while the others misrepresent the characteristics of avoidant, disorganized, and anxious attachment styles.