On her first birthday, Emily looks at her mother as they observe the clown coming to her party. At first Emily is crying. Then her mother smiles and acts very happy, so Emily smiles, too. This is an example of

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This is an example of social referencing, which is when an individual uses another person's emotional reaction to interpret ambiguous or uncertain situations. Emily is unsure of how to feel about the clown, but when she sees her mother smiling and acting happy, she uses her mother's emotional cues to guide her own emotional response.

On Her First Birthday, Emily Looks at Her Mother as They