A child shows jealousy at the age of

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is:

3. 18 months

Explanation:

Jealousy is a complex emotion that typically emerges as children develop a sense of self and awareness of others. At around 18 months, children begin to show signs of jealousy as they start to understand social relationships and become more aware of their surroundings and the people in them. This is the age when children often become possessive of their caregivers and may react negatively when attention is given to others, such as siblings or peers.

Let's analyze why the other options are incorrect:

1. 6 months: At this age, infants are primarily focused on basic needs and attachment to their primary caregivers. They have not yet developed the cognitive and emotional capacity to experience jealousy.

2. 12 months: While children at this age are starting to become more aware of their environment and social interactions, they are still in the early stages of developing self-awareness and understanding of social dynamics. Jealousy typically does not manifest strongly at this stage.

4. 24 months: By this age, children are certainly capable of experiencing jealousy, but it usually begins to emerge earlier, around 18 months. At 24 months, children may exhibit more pronounced and complex expressions of jealousy as their social and emotional development continues to advance.

In summary, 18 months is the age when children typically start to show jealousy, as they are developing a greater awareness of themselves and their relationships with others.