Question

Your friend confesses she feels closer to one child than her others. you should think:

a)thats a sign of pathology. mothers should love equally
b)thats normal, she should feel closer to whom she thinks shes more bonded to
c)thats normal, mothers tend to feel closer to their first born
d)thats normal mothers feel closer to sons

Answer 1

It is normal for a parent to feel closer to one child than others due to the unique nature of human attachments and bonding, as supported by research from Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby's Attachment Theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a friend confesses she feels closer to one child than her others, it's important to recognize that this can be viewed as a normal variation in human relationships, rather than a sign of pathology. Research by Mary Ainsworth using the Strange Situation process demonstrated that children differ in the ways they bond with their caregivers, which can lead to caregivers feeling closer to some children than others due to the nature of each unique bond. John Bowlby's Attachment Theory furthers this understanding by emphasizing the role of a secure base and mutually enjoyable interactions in forming attachments. It is natural for attachments to vary in their intensity and quality, and this holds true for parental feelings towards their children as well.