Three-month-olds show a negativity bias in their social evaluations.
Previous research has shown that 6-month-olds evaluate others on the basis of their social behaviors--they are attracted to prosocial individuals, and avoid antisocial individuals (Hamlin, Wynn & Bloom, 2007). The current studies investigate these capacities prior to 6 months of age. Results from two experiments indicate that even 3-month-old infants evaluate others based on their social behavior towards third parties, and that negative social information is developmentally privileged.
Hamlin
J Kiley
JK
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. kiley.hamlin@yale.edu
Wynn
Karen
K
Bloom
Paul
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012919:Social Behavior