Question

By what age is a child's attachment style typically established?

1) 3 months
2) 9 months
3) 2 years
4) 5 years

Answer 1

A child's attachment style is typically established by the age of 2 years, based on the research by Mary Ainsworth and others in developmental psychology.

Step-by-step explanation:

Research in the field of developmental psychology suggests that a child's attachment style is typically established by the age of 9 months to 2 years. The work of Mary Ainsworth using the Strange Situation procedure, which observes the interaction between mothers and their infants, indicates that secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized attachment styles can be identified. Secure attachment, where the child prefers the parent over a stranger and uses the attachment figure as a secure base for exploration, is the most common and considered the healthiest form of attachment. By around 2 years old, children begin to show signs of social behavior, self-concept, and increased autonomy, building upon the foundational attachment formed in their earlier months.