Babies were shown four different scenarios using animal puppets. After a series of interactions, they were asked to choose their favorite puppets and they actually chose the puppets who were mean to the bad characters.
Now, understand that 8 month-old babies typically can crawl across the room and pick up a toy! How is it that they’ve figured out the difference between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”, so to speak? I mean, they have such limited cognitive skills and are just now starting to speak!
It’s about empathy. They may feel an adrenaline rush from witnessing a threat and they don’t like it.
Be careful about the interactions you have in front of baby. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that babies can’t have sophisticated emotions. They see and feel more than you know.
Claudia
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