A child starts to cry when his’ her grandmother takes him/her from his/ her mother's lap. The child cries due to: 

The correct answer is 'Separation anxiety'

Key Points

• Separation anxiety:
  • Separation anxiety is a condition in which a child experiences excessive fear or worry about being apart from primary caregivers, typically parents.
  • This type of anxiety is common in young children and is a normal part of development. It usually peaks between the ages of 10-18 months and gradually decreases as the child grows older.
  • The child's crying when taken from the mother's lap by the grandmother is indicative of separation anxiety, as the child feels discomfort and fear due to the absence of the primary caregiver.

Additional Information

• Social anxiety:
  • Social anxiety involves an intense fear of social situations where one might be embarrassed or judged by others. It is more common in older children and adults.
  • It is not applicable in the context of a young child crying when taken away from their primary caregiver.
• Emotional anxiety:
  • Emotional anxiety can refer to a broad range of anxieties related to emotions, but it is not a specific term used to describe the scenario in question.
  • It does not accurately capture the specific fear of being separated from a primary caregiver.
• Stranger anxiety:
  • Stranger anxiety is the fear or apprehension that children often feel around unfamiliar people. It usually begins around 6 months of age and peaks at about 9-12 months.
  • In this scenario, the child is crying due to being taken away from the mother, not necessarily due to the presence of the grandmother, which points more directly to separation anxiety.