Although three-year-old Hailey was excited for her new baby brother Blake to arrive, since his birth, Hailey's behavior has changed; she now has occasional toilet accidents, clings to her mother, and has frequent crying outbursts. Hailey is displaying classic signs of ____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hailey's behavior, such as having toilet accidents, clinging to her mother, and frequent crying, are signs of regression. This is a defense mechanism where a child displays behaviors more typical of an earlier developmental stage rather than handling stress in a more mature manner. This often happens due to the stress of a new sibling, as the older child may feel the need to compete for parental attention.

Although Three-Year-Old Hailey Was Excited for Her New Baby Brother