Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 87%
Full-length
The mother of a 3-year-old is complaining that her son still throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. How should the nurse advise the mother to respond?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
This child is in Erikson's developmental stage of initiative versus guilt. Guilt develops when the child is made to feel bad about his behavior. Ignoring the negative behavior shows the child that he'll gain nothing through negative behavior such as temper tantrums. Promising the child a new toy or giving in to his demands will reinforce his negative behavior by rewarding his tantrums. Mimicking the child will make him feel guilty.