Question

In which of the following scenarios is Henry, age 9, most likely to experience guilt?

He peeks at the answers of his classmate during a spelling quiz.
He accidentally knocks his friend over while running on the playground.
He breaks his mother's favorite glass while trying to help her clean the dishes.
He forgets to clean up his toys before leaving for school.

Answer 1

The correct answer is He peeks at the answers of his classmate during a spelling quiz.

Explanation: Initiative / guilt - between 3 and 6 years

The child must already be able to distinguish between what he can do and what he cannot do. This stage marks the possibility of taking initiatives without acquiring the feeling of guilt: the child experiences different roles in group play, imitates adults, is aware of being “other” than “others”, of individuality. The child should be encouraged to be what he or she imagines to be without feeling guilty.