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An 18 month old is brought into your office because her parents are concerned about her behavior at daycare. She goes to daycare for 3 days a week for half a day, and for the first ten minutes after being dropped off, she cries and is extremely difficult to console. Her parents have noticed that most of the children do not seem to do this when they are dropped off. This past week, she cried for an hour after being dropped off on one day. The girl appears happy in your office and is being held by her father. They report she is otherwise a happy child and they haven’t had any problems with her. Her parents appear extremely guilty about having to use daycare, but say it is necessary in order to keep their jobs. Which of the following is the most likely cause for her distress?