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Infants Choose Those Who Defer in Conflicts
Ashley J Thomas1, Barbara W Sarnecka2
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|June 25, 2019
Summary
Human infants, like many animals, initially avoid high-status individuals. However, by toddlerhood, humans shift to approach high-status individuals, recognizing their potential benefits.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Cognition
- Evolutionary Anthropology
Background:
- Social status is crucial in social species, influencing access to resources, mates, and territory.
- Human infants are sensitive to dominance cues, expecting larger or allied individuals to win conflicts.
- While many species avoid high-status individuals due to aggression, humans may benefit from associating with them.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether 10- to 16-month-old human infants prefer high- or low-status individuals.
- To examine how infants' preference for high-status individuals changes with age, specifically comparing infants to toddlers.
Main Methods:
- Six experiments were conducted using puppets to represent individuals in zero-sum conflicts.
- Infants' choices between puppets that won or yielded in conflicts were observed.
- Results were compared with previous findings on older toddlers' preferences.
Main Results:
- 10- to 16-month-old infants consistently chose puppets that yielded in conflicts (low-status).
- In contrast, toddlers only 6 months older preferred puppets that won conflicts (high-status).
- This indicates a developmental shift in preference from avoiding to approaching high-status individuals.
Conclusions:
- Early human social preferences mirror those of many non-human species, initially avoiding high-status individuals.
- A significant developmental shift occurs in toddlerhood, where individuals begin to approach high-status others.
- This shift aligns with the understanding that high-status individuals in human societies offer guidance and protection.
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