A nurse is caring for a hospitalized client who is quarrelsome, opinionated, and has little regard for others. According to Sullivan's interpersonal theory, the nurse should associate the client's behaviors with a previous deficit in which stage of development?

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According to Sullivan's interpersonal theory, an individual's early experiences with significant others can affect their behavior and relationships in later stages of development. If the client is quarrelsome, opinionated, and has little regard for others, this may suggest that they experienced a deficit in their early relationships with caregivers, such as a lack of emotional nurturance or inconsistent parenting. This deficit may have led to the development of a hostile or defensive interpersonal style that persists into adulthood. Childhood is the stage of development where significant others, such as caregivers, have the most influence on the individual's character formation.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Hospitalized Client Who Is