STRANGER ANXIETY Meaning and
Definition
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Stranger anxiety refers to a developmentally appropriate emotional response exhibited by infants and young children when encountering unfamiliar individuals. It is a normal and temporary phase of social development that typically emerges around the age of six to eight months and can persist until the age of two or three years.
During this stage, infants often become apprehensive, wary or fearful when confronted with strangers, whether they are adults or children. This reaction may be accompanied by clinging to their primary caregiver, crying, or avoiding eye contact. Stranger anxiety is considered a protective mechanism that helps infants differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar individuals, fostering a sense of safety and security.
This behavioral response is believed to be influenced by several factors, including the child's temperament, previous exposure to strangers, and the consistency and quality of attachment with the primary caregiver. It reflects normal cognitive, social, and emotional development, as infants learn to discern familiar faces and navigate social interactions.
As children continue to grow, develop language skills, and experience more social interactions with different individuals, stranger anxiety tends to decrease gradually. It is an important milestone in a child's social-emotional development, indicating their growing awareness of the world around them and their ability to form attachments.
Etymology of STRANGER ANXIETY
The word "stranger anxiety" is a combination of three terms: "stranger", "anxiety", and "-ity".
1. Stranger: The word "stranger" comes from Middle English "straunge", which means foreign, unknown, or unfamiliar. It has roots in Old French "estrangier" and Latin "extraneus", both meaning external or foreign.
2. Anxiety: The word "anxiety" originates from the Latin word "anxietas", which refers to distress, unease, or worry. It is derived from the Latin verb "anxius", meaning to choke or strangle, reflecting the physical and emotional sensations associated with anxiety.
3. -ity: The suffix "-ity" is used to form abstract nouns from adjectives, indicating the quality or state of being. In this case, it denotes the quality or state of experiencing anxiety towards strangers.
