Shruti has a fear of entering unfamiliar situations and hence avoids…

Shruti has a fear of entering unfamiliar situations and hence avoids leaving her house. Identify her issue from the following list.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Agoraphobia

Option (1) Trichotillomania — Incorrect. Trichotillomania is the hair-pulling disorder, one of the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. It is a repeated act the person cannot control, not a fear of places.

Option (2) Separation Anxiety disorder — Incorrect. In separation anxiety disorder the person is fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is not appropriate for her or his age. Shruti fears unfamiliar situations, not being away from someone she is attached to.

Option (3) Agoraphobia — Correct. Agoraphobia is the term used when people develop a fear of entering unfamiliar situations. Many people with agoraphobia are afraid of leaving their home, which severely limits their normal life. Shruti shows both signs.

Option (4) Social Anxiety disorder — Incorrect. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is intense and incapacitating fear and embarrassment when dealing with others. Shruti’s fear is of unfamiliar situations as such, not of meeting and being judged by people.

Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 15-06-2023 (Slot 3).

Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2022 on 05-08-2022 (Slot 2), and in CUET (UG) 2025 on 22-05-2025 (Slot 1).

NCERT (2025-26): “Anxiety Disorders … Phobias can be grouped into three main types, i.e. specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia. Specific phobias are the most commonly occurring type of phobia. This group includes irrational fears such as intense fear of a certain type of animal, or of being in an enclosed space. Intense and incapacitating fear and embarrassment when dealing with others characterises social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Agoraphobia is the term used when people develop a fear of entering unfamiliar situations. Many people with agoraphobia are afraid of leaving their home. So their ability to carry out normal life activities is severely limited.…”

“…Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is another type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally not appropriate.…”