Which term describes the behavior of young children who talk to themselves to guide their own actions?

• A. Private speech
• B. Social referencing
• C. Scaffolding
• D. Egocentric speech

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which focuses on a specific behavior observed in young children related to how they use language to guide their own actions.
2. Step 2: Review the definitions of each term provided: Private speech, Social referencing, Scaffolding, and Egocentric speech.
3. Step 3: Recognize that Private speech refers to when children talk to themselves aloud to regulate their behavior and problem-solving processes.
4. Step 4: Note that Social referencing involves looking to others for cues on how to react in uncertain situations, which is different from self-directed speech.
5. Step 5: Identify that Scaffolding is a teaching method where an adult provides support to a child, and Egocentric speech is an older term sometimes used to describe self-directed speech but is less precise than Private speech.