Magazine - Can Babies Tell Right From Wrong? | The New York Times
Summary
TLDRThe video dives into the question of whether babies are born with an inherent sense of morality or if they learn moral behavior from society. Yale University's infant cognition Center, led by Professor Paul Bloom, investigates this by examining how infants perceive and react to moral behaviors. Researchers conduct experiments using puppet shows displaying 'good' and 'bad' characters. Babies are then asked to choose between the characters. Results show that about 80% of babies consistently choose the 'helpful' character over the one that acts selfishly. This implies a possible innate ability to discern moral behavior, challenging the notion that all moral precepts are learned after birth.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Babies may have an innate sense of morality.
- 🎭 Puppet shows are used to test babies' understanding of good and bad.
- 👶 Infants often choose the 'helpful' character.
- 🔍 Research challenges the idea that morality is solely learned.
- 📊 Over 80% of babies prefer the 'good' character.
- 🍼 Study could influence how we teach morals to children.
- 🔬 Shows potential for innate understanding of social interactions.
Timeline
- 00:00:00 - 00:05:13
The video explores the moral understanding of babies, questioning whether they are blank slates or have innate senses of right and wrong. Paul Bloom, a psychology professor at Yale, discusses his team's research at the Infant Cognition Center. Through puppet shows, they study whether infants can distinguish between 'good' and 'bad' characters. Results show that about 80% of babies consistently choose the helpful character, suggesting a possible inborn moral sense. This challenges the belief that moral understanding is solely learned from society. The research hints that basic concepts of good and evil might be inherent rather than entirely taught.
Mind Map
Video Q&A
What is the main topic of the video?
The video explores whether babies have an innate sense of morality or if they learn it from society.
Where is this research conducted?
The research is conducted at Yale University's infant cognition Center.
How do the researchers test the babies?
Researchers use puppet shows to present scenarios with 'good' and 'bad' characters, then see which character the babies choose.
What is the surprising finding from the research?
The surprising finding is that 80% of babies choose the 'helpful' character over the 'unhelpful' one.
What might this study suggest about teaching morals to children?
The study suggests that infants might come into the world with some innate understanding of good and bad behavior.
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- morality
- babies
- Yale University
- infant cognition
- psychology
- Paul Bloom
- puppet shows
- innate sense