Questions: Second-graders Pau and Tarini have been assigned to an innovative afterschool mentorship program. Whereas Pau's grades and well-being have not been improved by the program, Tarini's reading and her enjoyment of school have improved greatly. Which theory BEST explains why Pau and Tarini had varying responses to the program? - attachment - hierarchy of human needs - differential susceptibility - psychosexual stages

The answer is differential susceptibility.

Attachment theory primarily focuses on the bonds between children and their caregivers, emphasizing how these relationships affect emotional and social development. While attachment can influence a child's response to various situations, it does not specifically address why two children might respond differently to the same program based on individual differences.

Maslow's hierarchy of human needs suggests that individuals are motivated by a series of hierarchical needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization. While this theory can explain general motivation and behavior, it does not specifically account for individual differences in response to the same environmental stimuli, such as an afterschool program.

Differential susceptibility theory posits that individuals vary in their sensitivity to environmental influences due to genetic and biological factors. This theory suggests that some children are more responsive to positive or negative experiences than others. In this case, Tarini may be more susceptible to the positive effects of the mentorship program, while Pau may be less affected, explaining their differing responses.

Freud's psychosexual stages focus on the development of personality through various stages centered on erogenous zones. This theory does not specifically address individual differences in response to environmental programs or stimuli, making it less relevant to the scenario described.