Shelley and Julie are mothers who both have three-month-old infants. Shelley tells Julie, "My son is so fussy," to which Julie replies, "That's funny-my son is so easy." It appears that Shelley and Julie are discussing their newborns' ________.
A) personalities.
B) moods.
C) reflexes.
D) temperaments.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The exchange between Shelley and Julie suggests they are discussing the temperament of their infants, which refers to their innate patterns of behavior and emotional responses. The fact that Shelley's baby is described as "fussy" and Julie's is described as "easy" implies that they differ in their temperament. The other options, such as personalities and moods, are more complex constructs that are shaped by a variety of factors over time. Reflexes are simple, automatic responses to a stimulus that are present in all infants.

Shelley and Julie Are Mothers Who Both Have Three-Month-Old Infants