Science Nation: Babies and Learning
Are humans pre-wired to know right from wrong or are they blank slates who learn solely by exposure to the environment? The question isn’t new, but by studying the behavior of newborns, psychologist Karen Wynn of Yale University believes she can get closer to the answer. With support from the National Science Foundation, she is investigating the role an infant’s social preferences play in how they learn from other people. Wynn and her team put on puppet shows for infants, with characters that display both pro-social and anti-social behavior. So far, the babies almost always prefer the nicer puppets to the mean ones, indicating humans may be born with an innate preference for pro-social behavior.
Media Details
Runtime: 2 minutes 33 seconds
- Topic: Counseling and Self-Help, Home and Family
- Subtopic: Child Development, Human Behavior, Psychology
- Grade/Interest Level: 10 - 12
- Standards:
- Release Year: 2009
- Producer/Distributor: National Science Foundation
- Series: Science Nation
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