Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing 11th Edition Test Bank - Health Promotion of the Toddler and Family Related

Review Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing 11th Edition Test Bank - Health Promotion of the Toddler and Family related questions and content

A toddler, age 16 months, falls down a few stairs. He gets up and scolds the stairs as if they caused him to fall. What is this an example of?

  • A. Animism
  • B. Ritualism
  • C. Irreversibility
  • D. Delayed cognitive development
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Animism is the attribution of lifelike qualities to inanimate objects. By scolding the stairs, the toddler is attributing human characteristics to them. Ritualism is the need to maintain sameness and reliability. It provides a sense of comfort to toddlers. Irreversibility is the inability to reverse or undo actions initiated physically. The toddler is acting in an age-appropriate manner.