During the first several months after birth, the mother and infant begin to know each other. This relationship progresses through several phases. Which of the following actions are to be expected in the phase of mutual regulation?

Question

1. The infant grasps his or her mother's finger while nursing.
2. The infant begins to seek out the mother over other individuals.
3. The mother spends more time making eye-to-eye contact with the infant.
4. The mother vocalizes feelings of frustration with her infant.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Actions that make the infant more attractive to the mother, such as grasping a finger, usually occurs during the acquaintance phase.
Rationale 2: When the relationship between mother and infant reaches reciprocity, the infant will seek to interact with the mother more.
Rationale 3: Holding the infant in the en face position is likely to occur most often in the acquaintance phase.
Rationale 4: The mother is most likely to vocalize her negative maternal feelings during the phase of mutual regulation, when both the mother and infant are determining the amount of control each partner will have in the relationship.