Final answer:
The source of the mother's motivation likely stems from stress factors, especially relevant as younger parents are generally less equipped to manage parenting stress, increasing the risk of child abuse and aggressive reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The motivation for a young woman's reactive behavior toward her daughter by slapping her is most likely a result of stress factors. As research shows, younger parents or those new to parenting can be less capable of coping with stresses. This can increase the risk of reactive behaviors, which might include anger and aggression. Teenage parents are more prone to stress due to the challenges of becoming a new parent, leading to a higher likelihood of child abuse when compared to older parents.
It's important to recognize that many social factors affect the way a family raises its children. The concept of sociological imagination helps us understand that individual behaviors are influenced by historical and societal contexts. Given these influences, children often mimic the conflict-resolution behaviors they witness, meaning exposure to aggressive behaviors can lead to their perpetuation.