In which of the following situations will 9-month-old Lucy show the most stranger anxiety?
A) when she meets a stranger in her home
B) when she meets another 9-month-old baby at her usual child care facility
C) when she meets a stranger in an unfamiliar place
D) when she meets her caregiver after spending the entire day at the child care facility

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to research on stranger anxiety, 9-month-old infants tend to show the most stranger anxiety when they encounter strangers in unfamiliar places or environments. This is because the unfamiliar setting may increase their sense of uncertainty and discomfort, making them more likely to cling to their caregiver and express distress. In contrast, encountering a stranger in their own home or at their usual child care facility may be less anxiety-provoking because they feel more familiar and comfortable in those settings. Meeting another baby at child care may also be less anxiety-provoking because infants at this age are just beginning to develop social skills and may not perceive other babies as "strangers" in the same way they do adults. Finally, although infants may experience some separation anxiety when being reunited with their caregiver after spending time at child care, this is not necessarily the same as stranger anxiety, which specifically refers to discomfort or wariness around unfamiliar people.

In Which of the Following Situations Will 9-Month-Old Lucy Show