Though now trusting in mother’s permanent presence, the growing child must still contend with the fear of losing her love. The four-year-old who is scolded for being “bad” may still feel threatened with the withdrawal of his mother’s love; he may not yet conceive of the possibility that his mother may be expressing her own frustrations quite apart from his own behavior, nor has he learned that his mother can be angry and yet love him just as much at the same time.
