Atypical social and emotional development: which is characteristic?

• A. Demonstrating no social delays
• B. Being socially overt and overly assertive
• C. Being excessively trusting and misunderstanding nonverbal cues
• D. Always understanding others' emotions

Answer: (C)

In atypical social and emotional development, the way a person reads and responds to others’ signals often doesn’t align with typical expectations. Nonverbal cues—facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language—can be misunderstood or missed entirely, so social interactions may feel less predictable or harder to navigate. When someone has this pattern, they might rely more on explicit, spoken information and may struggle with gauging others’ feelings or intentions.

The statement about being excessively trusting and misunderstanding nonverbal cues captures this combination: a tendency to trust others easily because nonverbal signals aren’t interpreted accurately, which can lead to socially risky situations. This contrasts with someone who shows no social delays, someone who is overtly assertive in a way that isn’t typical for many with severe-profound disabilities, or someone who supposedly always understands others’ emotions.