Question

James sees his friends Evan and Liam playing a quiet game of blocks. James wants to engage in some rough-and-tumble play, so he grabs one of the blocks and runs a few feet away, looking over his shoulder and displaying a play face. How are Evan and Liam likely to respond

Answer 1

Answer: Evan and Liam may get upset with James and start fighting.

Explanation:

James has seen that Evan and Liam are calm playing with the blocks and understand that the only way he can get to play fights with them is to make them angry. Throwing one of the blocks they are using is the way James uses to provoke them and make the fight take place.

This type of situation can be seen daily. When a person wants to achieve something from another, he performs some action that he knows will produce a reaction in the other person. This situation could be defined as a provocation, where someone does something to another person to obtain something. That something may be some material good or a reaction of anger or rage.