Eight-Month-Old Infants Infer Unfulfilled Goals, Despite Ambiguous Physical Evidence

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
J Kiley HamlinKaren Wynn

Abstract

In this study, we tested whether 8-month-old infants could infer an actor's unfulfilled goal, despite some physical information present in the displays being inconsistent with the attempted goal. Infants saw a human hand holding a ring repeatedly approach the top of a plastic cone in an apparent failed attempt to place the ring on the cone. The hand and ring then bounced away from the top of the cone toward the floor. Thus, some information presented was relevant to the goal (the motion toward the goal, the afforded relationship between the ring and the cone, and the repeated attempt), but some of it was irrelevant to the goal (the movement away from the goal). Infants were presented with 2 test events: 1 that was consistent with all the trajectory information but inconsistent with the goal, and 1 that was consistent with the goal. Eight-month-olds looked longer to the trajectory-consistent event, suggesting they were able to infer the goal despite the physical ambiguity. Infants who had not been habituated to the failed attempt or who saw a matched inanimate control did not show this pattern, suggesting that infants in the first year of life actively and selectively analyze the unfulfilled goal-directed behavior of others.

References

Mar 17, 2005·Developmental Psychology·Tanya BehneMichael Tomasello
Dec 7, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Derek E LyonsFrank C Keil
Jun 26, 2008·Developmental Science·J Kiley HamlinAmanda L Woodward
Jul 2, 2008·Cognitive Development·Susan C JohnsonSu-Jeong Ok
Nov 29, 2008·Psychological Science·Amanda C Brandone, Henry M Wellman
Jan 1, 2005·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Laura Wagner, Susan Carey

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 2010·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Heidi L MarshMaria Legerstee
Nov 26, 2010·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Sarah ShultzGregory McCarthy
Mar 23, 2012·Cognitive Science·Jean M Mandler
Oct 28, 2010·Developmental Science·J Kiley HamlinPaul Bloom
May 8, 2014·PloS One·J Kiley Hamlin, Andrew S Baron
Jul 25, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Athena VouloumanosAmanda Pogue
Oct 12, 2013·Developmental Science·Amanda C BrandoneHenry M Wellman
Sep 3, 2010·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review·Andy P Field, Kathryn J Lester

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Developmental Psychology
Ivanina HenrichsGustaf Gredebäck
Frontiers in Psychology
Ivanina HenrichsGustaf Gredebäck
Developmental Science
Jessica A Sommerville, Catharyn C Crane
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved