Final answer:
The students' higher expectations for the resort amenities and services in planning a trip for their mother is an example of vicarious expectation, as they are aiming to meet their mother's standards for her approval.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hildy's children's higher expectations for the amenities and services that a Lake Tahoe resort will provide for their mother is an example of a(n) vicarious expectation. This means that they are setting their expectations based not on what they would personally desire but on what they believe will meet their mother's standards and gain her approval. They are imagining her preferences and needs, possibly placing them at a higher standard than their own because they want to ensure her satisfaction with the trip.