Which description best matches disorganized attachment?

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• C. May avoid parents; withdrawn, quiet, anxious.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

Answer: (A)

Disorganized attachment shows a child struggling to manage emotions around the caregiver, with a mix of fear, confusion, and unpredictable behavior that lacks a coherent strategy. The description that lists confusion or apprehension along with anger, depressive mood, not following directions, a short fuse, and difficulty making friends best captures that unstable, contradictory pattern. This reflects how a child can swing between approach and withdrawal when caregiving is frightening or inconsistent, leading to disorganized responses in social settings.

The other descriptions align with different patterns: positive, engaged greetings signal secure attachment; withdrawal and quietness reflect avoidant attachment; and wariness of strangers with anxiety points to anxious or fearful-avoidant patterns.