Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

What aspect of emotional distress is typically associated with infants who exhibit resistant attachment?

1. They are indifferent to the caregiver's presence.

2. They cry intensely but struggle to be comforted.

3. They are overly clingy with the caregiver.

4. They display joy when reunited without distress beforehand.

The correct answer is: They cry intensely but struggle to be comforted.

Infants exhibiting resistant attachment demonstrate a distinct pattern of emotional distress characterized by their intense crying and difficulty in being comforted. This response reflects their conflicting feelings toward their caregiver; while they seek closeness and comfort, they also show resistance and ambivalence when the caregiver attempts to provide that comfort. This pattern indicates a lack of consistent caregiving, leading to anxiety and uncertainty for the infant. When these infants experience distress, their crying can be very intense and often persists even when the caregiver tries to soothe them. This behavior exemplifies the struggle of these infants to reconcile their need for the caregiver's attention and their feelings of frustration or ambivalence toward that same caregiver. In contrast, the other options describe behaviors that do not align with resistant attachment. Indifference to caregivers is more characteristic of avoidant attachment, being overly clingy might suggest anxious attachment styles but does not capture the resistant attachment’s conflicted nature, and displaying joy upon reunion without prior distress does not reflect the complexity of emotions inherent in resistant attachment.