Question

Lesli is driving her six-year-old daughter to ballet when another car cuts them off. Lesli lets out a string of curse words at the driver. From out of the back seat, her six-year-old, Robyn, repeats the vulgar phrase. Why do you think that Robyn has engaged in this behavior?

a) Robyn has a fixed mindset.
b) Robyn has observed Lesli's behavior and imitated it.
c) Robyn has a growth mindset.
d) Robyn has been positively reinforced for cursing.

Answer 1

Robyn repeated the curse words due to observational learning, a process by which children mimic the behaviors of adults. A child's inclination to imitate adult behavior can have important developmental impacts and shows the importance of adults modeling appropriate behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

Robyn has engaged in imitating her mother’s behavior after witnessing her response to a stressful situation on the road. This behavior is a classic example of observational learning, where children learn and replicate the actions of others, especially adult role models such as parents.

In this scenario, Robyn's repetition of her mother's curse words is not indicative of a fixed or growth mindset, nor is it a consequence of positive reinforcement for cursing. Instead, it's a natural tendency for children to mimic adults, understanding how to behave and react in different situations.