Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

How are an infant's sleep/wake cycles modified?

1. By increases in brain maturity only

2. By social pressure only

3. Not modified at all

4. By both increases in brain maturity and social pressure

The correct answer is: By both increases in brain maturity and social pressure

An infant's sleep/wake cycles undergo modifications primarily due to the dual influences of increases in brain maturity and social pressure. As infants develop, their brain matures, leading to more organized and regular sleep patterns. Initially, newborns have erratic sleep schedules, largely dictated by their need for nourishment. As their neurological systems develop, infants become capable of longer periods of sleep and wakefulness, which reflects an increase in brain maturity. Additionally, social pressure plays a significant role. Infants respond to environmental cues, such as light and darkness, parental interactions, and daily routines established by caregivers. These social contexts help sync the infant's biological rhythms with the household and societal norms, further refining their sleep/wake cycles. The combination of these physiological changes and external social influences highlights the adaptive nature of sleep patterns in infants, allowing them to better align with the dynamics of their surroundings. This understanding underscores the complexity of sleep regulation, emphasizing the importance of both innate biological processes and external social factors in shaping an infant's sleep behavior.