Question

Three-year-old Morris loves being with other children at the park. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, he typically cries and yells at her. This information suggests that Morris is exhibiting two aspects of temperament: and a. low sociability; low emotionality b. low activity level; low emotionality c. high sociability; high emotionality d. high activity level; high emotionality

Short answer

The short answer is: c. high sociability; high emotionality

Step-by-step solution

Understand Morris' Behavior

Morris loves being with other children at the park and gets upset when it's time to go home. This tells us that he enjoys social interaction and has an emotional response to leaving the park.

Compare the Options

Now, let's take a look at each of the given choices and compare it with the information we learned about Morris: a. low sociability; low emotionality - This doesn't fit, because Morris enjoys being around other children and gets emotional when he has to leave. b. low activity level; low emotionality - This doesn't fit, because Morris has a strong emotional response to leaving the park. c. high sociability; high emotionality - This fits Morris' behavior, because he enjoys social interactions and gets emotional when it's time to go home. d. high activity level; high emotionality - This might partially fit Morris' behavior, since he gets emotional, but the information doesn't mention he is particularly highly active, so we can't make assumptions.

Select the Best Option

Based on the analysis, the best fitting option is: \( \boxed{\text{c. high sociability; high emotionality}} \)

Key concepts

Child Psychology

Child psychology is a field that examines the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth through adolescence. In the context of our exercise, we analyze a typical scenario where a child's behavior at the park provides insights into his temperament. Understanding a child’s temperament is crucial because it influences how they interact with their environment and how they may respond to various situations.

Emphasizing the importance of close observation in child psychology, we take the case of Morris, a three-year-old who loves socializing and displays intense emotions when faced with a departure from the park. It is these observable behaviors that enable child psychologists, educators, and parents to infer aspects of a child’s temperament, such as sociability and emotionality, which play key roles in their overall development and well-being.

By understanding these developmental aspects, caregivers can tailor their parenting strategies, educators can create more conducive learning environments, and ultimately, children like Morris can be better supported in their growth journey.

Sociability

Sociability refers to one's tendency to engage with others and seek social interactions. It's an intrinsic part of a child's temperament. In children, high sociability is indicated through behaviors like seeking out playmates, participating in group activities, and showing a keen interest in making friends, all of which are crucial for their social and emotional development.

Children with high sociability, like Morris, tend to enjoy the company of others and can often be seen engaging in play and conversation with peers. However, when it's time to leave a social setting, highly sociable children may react strongly due to their reluctance to disengage from the stimulating environment. This behavior offers caregivers insights into the social needs of the child and often requires thoughtful strategies to manage transitions without undue stress.

Emotionality

Emotionality in children deals with the intensity and range of their emotional responses to situations. Children with high emotionality may experience feelings more deeply or react more vigorously to changes in their environment. These intense emotional reactions are not only limited to negative experiences, such as leaving a park, but can also occur during positive moments, leading to vibrant displays of happiness and excitement.

In our exercise, Morris expresses high emotionality when confronted with the end of playtime. His crying and yelling reflect a significant emotional response to an unfavorable change. Recognizing and respecting these strong emotions is vital for caregivers, as it can influence the child’s ability to handle challenges and stress. Positive support and guidance can help children like Morris learn to understand and regulate their emotions more effectively, contributing to healthier emotional development.