Which statement best defines social referencing?

Which statement best defines social referencing?

• A. Reading internal cues of one's own emotions.
• B. Imitating another child's behavior.
• C. Looking at a trusted adult's expression to decide how to respond.
• D. Recognizing a familiar vs unfamiliar person.

Answer: (C)

Social referencing is when a child looks to a trusted adult’s facial expression or emotional reaction in an uncertain situation and uses that signal to decide how to respond. The statement captures this idea: the child judges the best action by interpreting the adult’s expression. For example, if a child encounters something new and the caregiver’s face is calm and positive, the child is likely to approach; if the caregiver looks worried or anxious, the child may hesitate or retreat. This behavior helps the child gauge risk and decide how to act based on another person’s emotional cue. Other options don’t fit because they describe different processes: reading one’s own emotions (self-awareness), imitating another child’s actions (imitation), or distinguishing familiar from unfamiliar people (recognition or stranger anxiety).

Social referencing is when a child looks to a trusted adult’s facial expression or emotional reaction in an uncertain situation and uses that signal to decide how to respond. The statement captures this idea: the child judges the best action by interpreting the adult’s expression. For example, if a child encounters something new and the caregiver’s face is calm and positive, the child is likely to approach; if the caregiver looks worried or anxious, the child may hesitate or retreat. This behavior helps the child gauge risk and decide how to act based on another person’s emotional cue.

Other options don’t fit because they describe different processes: reading one’s own emotions (self-awareness), imitating another child’s actions (imitation), or distinguishing familiar from unfamiliar people (recognition or stranger anxiety).