Baby Chuck is picked up by a stranger. He immediately looks at his mother's face, and judges his reaction based on whether she expresses pleasure or concern. Chuck's reliance on cues from his mother in forming his own reaction is best considered an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates social referencing, which is when a child uses a caregiver’s emotional reactions to guide their own reactions to new or potentially threatening situations. Chuck is looking at his mother for guidance on how to react to the stranger, showing that he is relying on her as a reference point for how to feel and behave in the situation. Stranger anxiety (A) and separation anxiety (B) refer to different types of distress that a child might experience related to being separated from their caregiver or encountering strangers. Prosocial behavior (C) involves actions taken to help or benefit others, and is not the best fit for this scenario.

Baby Chuck Is Picked Up by a Stranger