In the context of childhood fears, what undermines the author's argument regarding a child's fear of a monster?

In the context of childhood fears, what undermines the author's argument regarding a child's fear of a monster?

• A. The fear is learned through societal influences
• B. The fear is instinctual and beyond the child's control
• C. The child is simply imaginative
• D. The fear can be easily counseled away

Answer: (B)

The selected answer indicates that the author's argument about a child's fear of a monster is undermined by the idea that such fear is instinctual and beyond the child's control. This perspective suggests that fears can stem from inherent human instincts which are not learned or influenced by external factors. If fears are instinctual, it challenges the concept that parents or society can easily manage or correct these fears through education or counseling. Thus, asserting that the fear originates from a primal, instinctual source implies that it is a natural part of a child's emotional and psychological development rather than something that can be typically rationalized away or dismissed. This concept emphasizes the depth and complexity of childhood fears, suggesting that they are not mere figments of imagination or easily mitigated by external guidance, but rather rooted within innate survival mechanisms. As such, understanding a child's fear as instinctual lends weight to considering it a significant aspect of their emotional landscape rather than simply a fleeting phase that can be overcome.

The selected answer indicates that the author's argument about a child's fear of a monster is undermined by the idea that such fear is instinctual and beyond the child's control. This perspective suggests that fears can stem from inherent human instincts which are not learned or influenced by external factors. If fears are instinctual, it challenges the concept that parents or society can easily manage or correct these fears through education or counseling. Thus, asserting that the fear originates from a primal, instinctual source implies that it is a natural part of a child's emotional and psychological development rather than something that can be typically rationalized away or dismissed.

This concept emphasizes the depth and complexity of childhood fears, suggesting that they are not mere figments of imagination or easily mitigated by external guidance, but rather rooted within innate survival mechanisms. As such, understanding a child's fear as instinctual lends weight to considering it a significant aspect of their emotional landscape rather than simply a fleeting phase that can be overcome.