Infants typically begin to fear strangers at what age?

Infants typically begin to fear strangers at what age?

• A. 2 months
• B. 4 months
• C. 6 months
• D. 12 months

Answer: (C)

Stranger anxiety comes as infants’ social awareness and attachment to caregivers mature. When babies begin to recognize familiar people and fear those they don’t know, it signals healthy attachment and cognitive development. This typically shows up around six months of age, and tends to become more noticeable by about nine months, often peaking near the first birthday. Earlier than six months, infants usually don’t exhibit this fear because their social world is less differentiated. By twelve months, anxiety around strangers may persist but is commonly intertwined with other social feelings like separation anxiety. So the typical onset is around six months.

Stranger anxiety comes as infants’ social awareness and attachment to caregivers mature. When babies begin to recognize familiar people and fear those they don’t know, it signals healthy attachment and cognitive development. This typically shows up around six months of age, and tends to become more noticeable by about nine months, often peaking near the first birthday. Earlier than six months, infants usually don’t exhibit this fear because their social world is less differentiated. By twelve months, anxiety around strangers may persist but is commonly intertwined with other social feelings like separation anxiety. So the typical onset is around six months.