Disorganized attachment is best described as which combination?

• A. Greet parents with positive emotions; content, engaged, on task.
• B. May avoid parents; withdrawn, quiet, anxious.
• C. Wary of strangers; anxious, not focused, insecure, asking a lot of questions.
• D. Confusion or apprehension; angry, depressed, not following directions, short fuse, difficulty making friends.

Answer: (D)

Disorganized attachment shows a lack of a consistent strategy for seeking comfort from a caregiver, with internal confusion and outwardly unstable, contradictory behaviors. The described combination—confusion or apprehension together with signs like anger, moodiness, not following directions, a short fuse, and trouble making friends—captures this chaotic, unpredictable pattern, where the child’s responses don’t fit a single, orderly approach. This contrasts with more organized patterns: one option describes warm, engaged interaction; another shows avoidance and withdrawal; another notes wariness with anxiety but still a more coherent response.