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Note. Ainsworth’s (1984) interactive behavioral measures, elaborated in detail in Patterns of Attachment: |
| (a) proximity-seeking = the intensity, duration, and degree of success of the infant’s attempts to make contact with their caregiver, particularly where this occurs at reunion; |
| (b) contact-maintaining = the intensity, duration, and degree of success of the infant’s attempts to keep contact with their caregiver once it has been achieved; |
| (c) proximity-avoiding = the intensity and duration of behaviors that direct attention away from the caregiver as he or she approaches on reunion, such as averting the face; |
| (d) contact-resisting = the intensity and duration of behaviors that signal anger and a desire to be put down from contact with the caregiver, such as pushing away. |
| A |
Lower proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion than B or C, together with some proximity-avoiding behaviors. The infant’s behavior, attention, and affect are integrated in a coherent way to downplay the communication of distress and keep focus away from the caregiver (e.g. by attention to the toys). |
| A1 |
Lowest proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion than B or C; strongest proximity-avoiding behaviors. |
| A2 |
Low to moderate proximity-seeking on reunion. Marked proximity-avoiding behaviors. |
| B |
Strong proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion compared with A. Low contact-resisting compared with C. The infant’s behavior, attention, and affect integrate in a coherent way, which allows distress to be communicated to the caregiver and assuaged, allowing the child to then return calmly to play. |
| B1 |
Weak proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining. Weaker proximity-avoiding behaviors than A1. Strong communication and affective sharing with their caregiver from a distance. Conceptualized as intermediate between A and B infants. |
| B2 |
Low to moderate proximity-seeking and marked proximity-avoiding on first reunion. But then strong proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on second reunion. |
| B3 |
Strong proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion. No contact-resisting or proximity-avoiding. |
| B4 |
Some proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining prior to separation from the caregiver. Strong proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion. Some contact-resisting. |
| C |
Marked contact-resisting behavior. The infant’s behavior, attention, and affect integrate in a coherent way, which strongly communicates their distress and frustration to the caregiver. |
| C1 |
Strong proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining on reunion. Strong contact-resisting behavior punctuates the contact maintaining, as the child switches between communicating distress and a desire for contact, anger, and a desire to be put down. |
| C2 |
Weak proximity-seeking but moderate to strong contact-maintaining, particularly on second reunion. Moderate contact-resisting. |
