Developmental context may cause normal behaviors for one age to be seen as dysfunctional at another age.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (A)

Developmental context shapes what counts as typical behavior at different ages. As children grow, the expectations for skills and functioning shift, so behaviors that are normal for one age can look dysfunctional later. Clinicians evaluate behavior against age-appropriate norms and the level of impairment across settings. For instance, frequent temper tantrums are common in toddlers but would raise concerns in school-age children, while some experimentation or risk-taking can be typical during adolescence even if it wouldn’t be appropriate in younger children. So, the statement is true: developmental context can make normal behaviors at one age appear dysfunctional at another.