TED Health How babies think about danger | Shari Liu
Aug 13, 2024
Cognitive scientist Shari Liu, acclaimed for her work on early human development, reveals babies are far more aware of danger than many believe. She shares fascinating research showing that even one-year-olds can interpret risky situations. Liu discusses how infants assess danger through innovative studies and highlights their unexpected cognitive capabilities. Babies navigate their environment by interpreting social cues and events, showcasing a surprising level of intelligence that challenges our assumptions about their awareness.
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Babies See Danger When Watching Others
- One-year-old babies look oblivious when acting but show awareness when observing others in danger.
- Babies expect others to avoid risk and look longer when someone chooses a more dangerous action.
Action Versus Prediction Divergence
- Babies often will perform risky actions themselves but still hold abstract expectations about danger.
- Their own behavior can differ from what they predict for others, revealing distinct competence and performance.
Taking Baby Studies Online During COVID
- During COVID, Liu's team moved infant studies online using video calls and laptop screens.
- The online setup surprisingly produced reliable looking-behavior data and sped up data collection.