If trust goal in infancy is not met, what may occur?

• A. The child may become withdrawn and avoid interaction with the rest of society
• B. The child becomes more social
• C. The child develops enhanced motor skills
• D. The child becomes more curious

Answer: (A)

Focus on the idea of trust vs mistrust in infancy. When a caregiver consistently meets an infant’s needs, the child learns the world is reliable and people can be depended on. If that trust goal isn’t met, the infant develops mistrust, feeling unsafe and unsure about others. This often leads to withdrawal and avoidance of social interaction, because engaging with others feels risky or unrewarding. In other words, the lack of a trusted foundation makes the child more likely to pull back from social engagement.

Being more social would require a sense of safety and reliability that the infant didn’t experience. The options about developing better motor skills or becoming more curious aren’t direct outcomes of unmet trust; they align more with physical development or exploration, which aren’t the primary issue here.