Correct option is C
In the context of attachment theory, anxious attachment refers to individuals who tend to feel insecure in relationships. They seek constant closeness and reassurance from their partners and often worry about being abandoned. These individuals have a high need for intimacy and may display clinginess or possessiveness in their relationships. Anxious attachment stems from early interactions with caregivers that were inconsistent in terms of availability and responsiveness, leading to a child’s difficulty in managing anxiety in relationships. This attachment style is marked by emotional dependence, fear of rejection, and a constant need for validation.
Information Booster: Anxious attachment is one of the primary attachment styles in attachment theory, which was initially developed by John Bowlby and later expanded by Mary Ainsworth. People with an anxious attachment style often feel unworthy of love, leading them to seek constant affirmation from their partners. They are typically preoccupied with the relationship, feeling as though their partner may not return their affections. This often leads to behaviors such as excessive texting or calling, needing constant reassurance, and fearing the end of the relationship. The anxious individual’s emotional needs may feel overwhelming to others, leading to tensions in relationships.
While anxious attachment is rooted in the early caregiving environment, it can be mitigated through self-awareness and healthy communication. Therapy, particularly attachment-based therapy, can help individuals with anxious attachment learn how to manage their anxiety, foster more secure relationships, and become less reliant on constant reassurance.
Additional Knowledge - Incorrect Options:
(a) Avoidant Attachment: Avoidant attachment is characterized by emotional distance and a reluctance to rely on others for support. People with this attachment style tend to avoid closeness or intimacy, preferring independence. They might appear distant or detached in relationships, suppressing their emotions rather than expressing them. This style arises from early experiences where caregivers were emotionally unavailable or unresponsive, leading individuals to develop a self-reliant coping mechanism. Unlike anxious attachment, individuals with avoidant attachment do not demand closeness but rather withdraw when they feel overwhelmed.
(b) Interactive Attachment: Interactive attachment is not a widely recognized or standard attachment style in attachment theory. Attachment theory typically categorizes styles into secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized types. If "interactive" was intended to refer to a form of attachment, it would likely be a misunderstanding of the established theory. Secure attachment, on the other hand, refers to healthy, balanced connections with others and fosters stable, positive relationships.
(d) Secure Attachment: Secure attachment is the healthiest attachment style, where individuals are comfortable with intimacy and interdependence in relationships. They tend to have a positive view of themselves and others, are able to express their needs and feelings openly, and feel confident in their relationships. However, this is not the answer to the question, as secure attachment does not involve possessiveness or excessive demands for closeness. Secure individuals do seek connection but in a balanced and non-clingy way.