Question

the emotion of fear may appear earlier than normal in some infants due to

multiple choice

heredity.
abuse or neglect.
stranger anxiety.
reciprocal interaction.

Explanation:

Analyze the developmental timeline of fear

Infant emotional development typically follows a predictable sequence. The emotion of fear, often manifested as stranger anxiety or separation protest, generally emerges around 6 months of age and peaks near 18 months.

Evaluate environmental influences on emotional onset

While biological maturation sets the baseline, environmental stressors can significantly accelerate this timeline. Severe environmental stress, such as abuse or neglect, alters neurological development and heightens sensitivity to threat, causing fear responses to appear earlier than normal.

Assess the provided options

• Heredity: Sets general temperament but does not typically cause premature onset of basic fear responses in isolation.
• Abuse or neglect: Directly linked to early-onset fear and hypervigilance due to chronic stress.
• Stranger anxiety: A normal manifestation of fear, not the cause of its premature onset.
• Reciprocal interaction: Supports healthy, timely emotional regulation rather than premature fear.

Answer:

• heredity.
• abuse or neglect. (Correct answer)
• stranger anxiety.
• reciprocal interaction.