Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

Infants can communicate without words using social referencing and which of the following behaviors?

1. Following mother's gaze and by pointing to get mother's attention

2. Pointing to get mother's attention

3. Following mother's gaze and following mother's pointing

4. Creating arbitrary hand signals

The correct answer is: Following mother's gaze and following mother's pointing

The appropriate behavior that complements social referencing in infants is following the mother's gaze and following her pointing. These behaviors are crucial in early communication and social interaction. When an infant follows the gaze of a caregiver, they are learning to connect visual cues to external objects or events, which helps them understand what the caregiver is paying attention to. This ability indicates that the infant is not only aware of what the mother is looking at but also is engaging in a form of joint attention, which is fundamental for language development and social bonding. Following the mother’s pointing gestures similarly reinforces this shared understanding. When an infant observes and responds to pointing, they practice coordinating their focus with that of another person, fostering their ability to interpret social cues and intentions. Both of these behaviors reflect a sophisticated level of cognitive and communicative skills, allowing infants to navigate their social world effectively. Other behaviors, such as simply pointing to get a mother's attention or creating arbitrary hand signals, do not encapsulate the full range of interactive communication represented by following the mother's gaze and pointing. These actions do not involve the same level of shared attention or recognition of caregivers’ cues.