Compared to stepsons, stepdaughters tend to be more which?

• A. Less likely to withdraw from family contact.
• B. Happier to have a stepfather.
• C. More outgoing, reasonable, and pleased with the new arrangement.
• D. More sullen, withdrawn, and negative toward the stepfather.

Answer: (D)

When a child enters a stepfamily, how they respond often reflects their own sense of attachment and loyalty pressures. Daughters tend to experience stronger loyalty conflicts with their biological mother and may fear losing closeness to her or feeling replaced by a new father figure. That can show up as withdrawal, sulkiness, and negativity toward the stepfather as a way to protect their emotional space and boundaries. In many cases, stepsons adapt more quickly to the idea of a male parental figure or respond with less overt resistance, at least initially. So describing stepdaughters as more sullen, withdrawn, and negative toward the stepfather captures a common pattern seen in family dynamics, even though individual experiences vary.