Florida Child Protection Investigator (CPI) Certification Practice Test

What behavioral sign could indicate a traumatic experience in a child who previously displayed independence?

1. Physical aches and pains

2. Irritability

3. Repetition

4. Regression

The correct answer is: Regression

Regression is a behavioral sign that can indicate a traumatic experience in a child who previously displayed independence. When a child experiences trauma, they may revert to earlier developmental stages as a coping mechanism. This can manifest as behaviors such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, or wanting to be treated like a younger sibling, even if they had outgrown these behaviors. Such regression is often a way for the child to seek comfort and security during a time of distress, signaling that they may be struggling to cope with their feelings or the changes they are experiencing. Other behaviors, while they may also indicate distress or emotional challenges, do not specifically reflect a regression to earlier developmental stages. For instance, physical aches and pains can be psychosomatic responses, irritability may reflect frustration and an inability to express feelings adequately, and repetition could relate to an attempt to process trauma but does not indicate a step back in behavioral development as regression does.