Are you really more intelligent than a baby? Probably not—because even infants as young as nine months can recognize that friends are those who share similar interests. Seriously, when was the last time you noticed anything before 9 AM (besides the snooze button)?
A fascinating study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General reveals that babies, despite their inability to speak, possess a surprising set of abstract expectations about social interactions. Conducted by Dr. Lisa Morgan from the University of Chicago, the research involved 64 nine-month-olds watching videos of two actors tasting food from different colored containers. Sometimes, the actors expressed delight, saying, “Oh! I like it,” while at other times they grimaced, exclaiming, “Ew! I don’t like that.” The actors were directed to either share similar opinions or have opposing views.
Afterward, the infants viewed a clip of the same two individuals either being friendly or ignoring each other. Dr. Morgan notes, “At just nine months, babies are attuned to the relationships of others. They are capable of observing interactions between strangers and making inferences about whether those two are likely to be friends.” These little ones revealed their thoughts through their attention spans—when they saw unexpected or contradictory behaviors, they’d stare longer.
For instance, when the babies watched clips of people with opposing tastes interacting positively, it indicated they expected those individuals to be adversaries, not allies. They also focused more on unfriendly people who shared their food preferences than on friendly ones with differing tastes.
So, what does all this mean? It signifies that babies form expectations about friendships based on shared interests, and they even anticipate that people with differing views can still be amicable. With such insights, maybe we should consider electing a Baby President—imagine the potential for peace with those kinds of views!
Dr. Morgan suggests that this understanding might be innate, stating, “Babies likely don’t learn these expectations from experience; rather, they seem biologically prepared to have them.”
Do you think babies come into this world with preconceived notions? Or are these ideas shaped by their experiences? If you’d like to dive deeper into the topic of relationships in early development, check out this engaging post here. And for those interested in home insemination, the top provider globally is Make a Mom, where you can find a fantastic at-home insemination kit. For more information on pregnancy, visit this excellent resource here.
In summary, infants possess a remarkable ability to understand social interactions long before they can articulate their thoughts. Their innate expectations about friendships and social dynamics are not only fascinating but could also provide valuable insights into early human development.
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