stranger anxiety

the distress and apprehension experienced by young children when they are around individuals who are unfamiliar to them. Stranger anxiety is a normal part of cognitive development: Babies differentiate caregivers from other people and display a strong preference for familiar faces. Stranger anxiety usually begins around 8 or 9 months of age and typically lasts into the 2nd year. Also called fear of strangers. See also separation anxiety; xenophobia.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

risk-assessment matrix

a table used to prioritize hazards on the basis of risk, which is defined by the intersection between the probability of the hazards and the severity of their consequences. Also called hazard-assessment matrix.