Three-year-old Brian is playing with his 5-year-old sister Allison, who becomes frustrated that her books fell down while they were playing library. Allison begins to cry, and Brian laughs at Allison. This could BEST be described as:
A. normal behavior because of Brian's age.
B. kind, tender behavior masked as non-helpful behavior.
C. abnormal behavior because Brian is lacking empathy.
D. aggressive behavior.

Allison begins to cry, and Brian laughs at Allison. This could BEST be described as:

A. normal behavior because of Brian's age.

Explanation:

There is a lot of discussion surrounding a child's ability to develop empathy. Some parents show concern when their three-year-old kids do not seem as responsive to other children's feelings as they expected. However, even though we are born with the capacity for empathy, it is developed throughout childhood and adolescence.

Empathy can be basically defined as the ability of putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Brian is, however, too young to comprehend all types of feelings. He is also too young to understand that laughing is not exactly an appropriate reaction to someone crying. This understanding is still to come - either naturally, or via teaching. With time, he will grow more conscious of what his peers are feeling and of what he should feel in his turn. He will eventually learn to help and comfort those cry, for instance.

elastic potential energy