AP Psychology Practice Test 2026 - Free AP Psychology Practice Questions and Study Guide

An anxious ambivalent attachment style is characterized by a child’s heightened emotional response to the parent’s presence and absence. This style typically emerges in environments where a caregiver is inconsistently available, leading to confusion and anxiety in the child.

Children exhibiting this attachment style often show reluctance to explore their surroundings, demonstrating clinginess and hesitation when the caregiver is present. When the caregiver leaves, these children may express significant distress, protesting their absence vigorously. This behavior reflects their insecure attachment; they crave the caregiver's attention and reassurance but are unsure whether the caregiver will consistently meet those needs.

In contrast, characteristics such as easily being comforted upon the parent’s return or exploring freely while the parent is present indicate secure attachment styles. Additionally, not protesting when the parent leaves would align more with an insecure avoidant attachment style, where the child has learned to minimize their emotional expression and seeks to be self-reliant.