284 Unit 3 Infancy Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. • Unlike two-year-olds who remember their parents have returned after each separation, infants do not have memories of past events. • Infants are dependent on others to fulfi ll their needs whereas two-year-olds are more independent. • Two-year-olds can express their needs better than infants who cannot express their needs to others well, especially to adults they do not know. Infants’ inability to express themselves can lead to anxiety. Anger Just as the startle refl ex prece des (comes before something) true fear, infant rage precedes true anger. Infant rage occurs when babies are distressed. When infants feel distressed, they may swing their arms and legs excitedly, turn red, and cry loudly (Figure 10.8). Infant rage is not true anger, because anxious when the adults they love must leave them for a time. This is common when a parent goes to work or leaves the house to run an errand. The anxiety begins when the infant sees clues of the upcoming separation, such as a parent picking up car keys or telling the infant good-bye. Separation anxiety is more intense when strangers, such as new babysitters, are near. Infants cannot anticipate a reunion with their loved ones. Thus, during separations, they cry as though their hearts will break. When this occurs, infants are most diffi cult to console. Reactions to anxiety normally fade when infants are around two years of age, which may be due to the following: • Children younger than two years of age cannot understand why parents must leave whereas two-year-olds have some understanding about why their parents must leave them with others. Figure 10.8 Infant rage precedes true anger, which typically does not develop until around 8 to 10 months of age. Do you think this baby is crying or showing infant rage? How would you describe infant rage to a new parent who is frustrated with his or her baby?