Callie, age 11 months, went to the circus with her mother. When a clown came bouncing up to Callie's stroller, Callie was anxious and looked at her mother. When Callie's mother began to laugh at the clown, Callie joined in the laughter. Callie's behavior is called:

A) affective regulation. B) social referencing. C) stranger anxiety. D) bonding dependence.

b) social referencing.

Explanation:

Social referencing happens as children look at certain people's facial gestures to help them find out whether to act in such a situation. It refers to the mechanism in which children use adult affective displays to control their actions against physical objects, people and circumstances. It is one of the main processes by which children learn to understand the world around them. As per the question, when Callie's mother began to laugh at the clown, Callie joined in the laughter and therefore it is an example of social referencing.