Ben's sister taunts him, saying, "You're too little to carry that. Baby, baby, baby." Her actions might contribute to Ben's sense of what?

Ben's sister taunts him, saying, "You're too little to carry that. Baby, baby, baby." Her actions might contribute to Ben's sense of what?

• A. Pride
• B. Shyness
• C. Shame and doubt
• D. Anger

Answer: (C)

In early childhood, how others respond to a child’s attempts to do things plays a big role in shaping their sense of independence. When someone close to the child belittles them by saying they’re too little or calling them “baby,” it can make the child doubt their own abilities and feel embarrassed or inadequate. That combination—feeling you’re not capable and fearing judgment—matches the internal experience described by shame and doubt. It can reduce a child’s willingness to try new tasks and undermine confidence in their own growing skills. Pride would come from feeling capable and valued, which isn’t what this taunting promotes. Shyness could emerge as a cautious withdrawal, but the stronger, more direct impact of this kind of put-down is the development of shame and doubt about one’s abilities. Anger might be a reaction, but the prompt focuses on the sense of internal emotion the taunting could foster, and shame and doubt fits that description best.

In early childhood, how others respond to a child’s attempts to do things plays a big role in shaping their sense of independence. When someone close to the child belittles them by saying they’re too little or calling them “baby,” it can make the child doubt their own abilities and feel embarrassed or inadequate. That combination—feeling you’re not capable and fearing judgment—matches the internal experience described by shame and doubt. It can reduce a child’s willingness to try new tasks and undermine confidence in their own growing skills.

Pride would come from feeling capable and valued, which isn’t what this taunting promotes. Shyness could emerge as a cautious withdrawal, but the stronger, more direct impact of this kind of put-down is the development of shame and doubt about one’s abilities. Anger might be a reaction, but the prompt focuses on the sense of internal emotion the taunting could foster, and shame and doubt fits that description best.