Which age group is most likely to engage in stalling tactics before painful procedures?

School-aged children are most likely to engage in stalling tactics before painful procedures due to their developing cognitive abilities and increasing understanding of their environment. At this age, children become more aware of potential pain and may have a greater grasp of time, allowing them to formulate strategies to avoid or delay discomfort.

They might employ verbal tactics, such as negotiating or asking questions, to postpone the procedure, demonstrating their growing autonomy and desire to exert control over their situation. This behavior is often a manifestation of anxiety about the unknown or fear of pain, which can be prominently observed around this developmental stage.

Infants, being too young to comprehend the concept of stalling or engage in negotiation, largely rely on their caregivers for comfort and are generally not capable of these tactics. Preschoolers may also demonstrate some reluctance but typically lack the complex cognitive skills required for strategic deferral like school-aged children. Adolescents may show emotional responses or more aggressive avoidance behaviors but are less likely to use stalling as a tactic compared to school-aged children, who are more adept at this kind of social interaction.