What are parents likely facilitating when they encourage their children to think and act independently at an early age? Select one: a. competitiveness b. learning goals c. performance goals d. the need to achieve
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: b. learning goals
Explanation:
When parents encourage their children to think and act independently at an early age, they are most likely facilitating the development of learning goals.
Learning goals (also called mastery goals) focus on gaining new skills, understanding, and mastering a task. Children motivated by learning goals are interested in improving themselves, exploring, and developing competence through effort and persistence. Encouraging independent thinking and action fosters curiosity, self-confidence, and a desire to learn for the sake of learning.
Here’s why the other options are less likely:
- a. Competitiveness: While encouraging independence might indirectly help with competitiveness, this is more about wanting to outperform others. Independence fosters internal motivation rather than just competing.
- c. Performance goals: These goals focus on demonstrating ability relative to others, such as aiming for good grades or approval. Encouraging independence emphasizes self-directed learning rather than external validation.
- d. The need to achieve: This is a broader motivational concept related to wanting to succeed, but it is not specific enough. The emphasis on independent thinking specifically promotes an intrinsic motivation to learn, which aligns more closely with learning goals.
Additional details:
Research in developmental and educational psychology shows that fostering independence in children encourages intrinsic motivation, self-regulation, and persistence. Children who are encouraged to make decisions, solve problems, and act on their own tend to develop a growth mindset — believing their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. This aligns with learning goals, where the focus is on mastering skills and improving oneself rather than simply performing well or competing.
By supporting independent thinking early, parents help children build confidence and resilience, important traits for lifelong learning. This internal drive to learn and improve leads to deeper engagement and better academic and personal outcomes compared to motivation based mainly on external rewards or competition.