Question

: An infant sees his father's facial expression of encouragement and his mother's facial expression of fear.

a. The infant is likely to exhibit fear as well
b. The infant is likely to be confused and not respond
c. The infant's reaction will depend on their age
d. The infant is likely to exhibit a combination of fear and encouragement

Answer 1

The infant's reaction to their father's encouragement and mother's fear largely depends on their age and attachment style. Early developmental stages and securely attached children might respond differently to these complex social cues. Understanding the infant's development and attachment can help predict their reaction to such situations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Infant Reactions to Parental Cues

When an infant is exposed to different facial expressions from their caregivers, such as a father's encouragement and a mother's fear, the baby's response can vary. An infant's reaction to these mixed cues is likely to depend significantly on their developmental stage and age. For instance, a very young infant might respond reflexively, whereas an older infant might show confusion or a mixed emotional response, as they are beginning to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar stimuli. Object permanence and stranger anxiety, which often develop concurrently in infants, suggest that babies start to show preference for familiar people and may exhibit distress in the presence of strangers or unfamiliar expressions.

Furthermore, securely attached children, as described by Ainsworth’s attachment theory, often use their parents as a secure base from which to explore and return to for comfort in times of stress. This secure attachment suggests that infants may look to their caregivers for cues on how to react in uncertain situations. Infants also have innate preferences for their mothers' voice and scent, which can help them to respond differently to parental figures compared to strangers. Their responses are based on basic needs such as trust and the drive to seek comfort from caregivers.

While the details of the response can be affected by the nurturing environment and the specific nature of the attachment the infant has formed with their caregivers, it is generally expected that the infant's reaction will depend on their age and their attachment style. As such, it's hard to predict an exact outcome without knowing more about the individual infant's development and attachment history.