Hamlin, Mahanjan, Liberman, and Wynn found that if a young child has a preference for green beans and is shown a puppet that also likes green beans, then
they will like it when bad things happen to that puppet.
they will always prefer that puppet.
they will be indifferent to the puppet
they will like it when good things happen to that puppet.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
They will like it when good things happen to that puppet.
Explanation:
Hamlin, Mahajan, Liberman, and Wynn conducted studies on young children to investigate the development of social evaluation and moral preferences in infancy. One of their key findings was that even at a very young age, infants exhibit a preference for individuals who share their own preferences and align with their likes or dislikes. This demonstrates an early form of in-group bias.
In the specific scenario described, if a child has a preference for green beans and observes a puppet that also likes green beans, the child identifies the puppet as similar or aligned with their own preferences. This alignment fosters a sense of positive association or “affiliation bias” with the puppet.
The study findings suggest that when infants recognize a shared preference, they are more likely to:
- Attribute positive qualities to the puppet.
- Feel happy when positive outcomes occur for the puppet, such as receiving rewards or being treated kindly.
- Exhibit prosocial behaviors, like favoring the puppet or showing kindness in return.
This preference reflects an emerging understanding of social affiliation, where individuals who share similar tastes or choices are seen as part of the “in-group.” Consequently, the child not only prefers the puppet but also reacts positively when the puppet experiences good outcomes.
This phenomenon also ties into broader developmental theories, such as the early formation of social and moral reasoning. Infants’ tendencies to favor individuals with shared preferences suggest that basic social evaluations are deeply rooted in human nature and can be observed even in preverbal stages of development.
In sum, young children show a preference for those who share their likes and exhibit positive emotional responses toward favorable outcomes for those individuals.