International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

The stages of role acquisition in becoming a parent are appropriately described as anticipatory, formal, informal, and personal.

In the anticipatory stage, individuals prepare for parenthood by gathering information and forming expectations about the parenting role. This can involve discussions with friends and family, reading literature, and engaging in activities that foster a mindset geared toward parenting.

The formal stage occurs when individuals become parents, involving the initial experiences and responsibilities that come with the role. This stage typically includes the birth of the child and the establishment of a parent-child bond.

As parents navigate their new roles, they enter the informal stage, where they start to find their own style of parenting and develop an understanding of their child outside of societal expectations or formal guidelines. This stage is characterized by experiential learning, adaptation, and often the influence of personal values.

Finally, the personal stage refers to the time when individuals fully integrate their parental role into their identity. They have developed a deep understanding and connection with their child and have solidified their approach to parenting, which is unique and tailored to their family dynamics.

This framework helps both professionals and new parents understand the evolving nature of parental roles, enabling better support and guidance during the transition into parenthood.