Question

A nurse is caring for a child age 13 months who was admitted to the pediatric unit with a new diagnosis of asthma. The mother tells mentions how frustrated she gets because the baby puts everything in her mouth, even things that are not clean. The nurse knows that according to Freud's theory of growth and development, which of the following explains this behavior?

A) Lessens teething pain
B) Major source of gratification
C) Sucking is a basic reflex
D) Assists in gaining confidence

Answer 1

According to Freud's theory of growth and development, a child at 13 months putting everything in their mouth is in the oral stage, where the mouth is a major source of gratification.

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior of a child at 13 months putting everything in their mouth is explained by Freud's theory of growth and development, specifically the oral stage. In this stage, pleasure is focused on the mouth, and activities such as eating and sucking play a significant part in a baby's first year of life. According to Freud, the mouth is a major source of gratification for a child during this period. A baby's inclination to put objects in their mouth lessens with proper weaning. Continued reliance on oral mechanisms for gratification in later life may indicate a fixation in this stage.