Contrary to the Freudian theory that humans start their lives with a moral ‘blank slate’, children may be born with the ability to tell good from bad, according to a new research.
Newly born babies apparently start making moral judgments by the time they are six months old, claims a team of psychologists at the infant cognition centre at Yale University in Connecticut.
The scientists used the ability to tell helpful from unhelpful behaviour as an indication of moral judgment.
As part of the study, they conducted multiple tests on infants, less than a year old.
Firstly, an animated film of simple geometric shapes was screened for the kids to watch.
It showed a red ball, with eyes, trying to climb a hill. A yellow square helped, pushing it up, while a green triangle forced it back down.
Later, the children were asked to ‘choose’ between the ‘good guy’ square, and the ‘bad guy’ triangle.
In 80 per cent of cases the infants chose the square over the triangle.
In a second study, the children were shown a toy dog trying to open a box. One teddy bear helped him, while another sat on it to stop him getting inside.
The observers found that most babies opted for the friendly bear.
To further confirm that the babies were responding to niceness and naughtiness the scientists devised another test.
A toy cat played with a ball while a cuddly rabbit puppet stood on either side. When the cat lost the ball, the rabbit on the right side returned it to him, while the rabbit on the left side picked it up and ran away with it.
The children were asked to handle anyone one puppet. Most picked the naughty rabbit and smacked it on the head.
Paul Bloom, professor of psychology who heads the study team, said the research counters theories of psychologists such as Sigmund Freud who believed humans began life as ‘amoral animals’ and William James who described a baby’s mental life as “one great, blooming, buzzing confusion”.
“There is a growing body of scientific evidence that supports the idea that perhaps some sense of good and evil is bred in the bone,” The Times quoted Bloom as saying.
Absolutely fascinating sub7anAllah...Jazak'Allah kher for sharing.
The children were asked to handle anyone one puppet. Most picked the naughty rabbit and smacked it on the head.
lol this part made me laugh, how adorable. I'm going to look it up and see if there are other articles related to this theory...I wouldn't doubt it if it was true though.
It showed a red ball, with eyes, trying to climb a hill. A yellow square helped, pushing it up, while a green triangle forced it back down.
The red ball is an old wealthy oil tycoon in ill health (hence cannot manage the climb to the top of the hill), the yellow square is his young wife hoping to get her hands on the fortune. She is helping him up the hill where there are dangerous trained hogs ready to eat him. The green triangle is the tycoons young daughter trying to save her father.
format_quote Originally Posted by Alpha Dude
In a second study, the children were shown a toy dog trying to open a box. One teddy bear helped him, while another sat on it to stop him getting inside.
The box contained dangerous (but valuable) nuclear material. The dog and bear were trying to steal it.
format_quote Originally Posted by Alpha Dude
A toy cat played with a ball while a cuddly rabbit puppet stood on either side. When the cat lost the ball, the rabbit on the right side returned it to him, while the rabbit on the left side picked it up and ran away with it.
The rabbit represents Israel and the ball is Palestine. The rabbit on the right was the USA giving Israel the go ahead to continue its play; the rabbit on the left was the PLO trying to take back what is rightfully theirs.
Not sure if you're being serious but I'm sure you'll agree that we can't expect babies to judge further than what is apparent. Simply because they don't know better yet. Such analysis can only come about when they are taught (explicitly or through life experiences) that things aren't always as they appear.
The red ball is an old wealthy oil tycoon in ill health (hence cannot manage the climb to the top of the hill), the yellow square is his young wife hoping to get her hands on the fortune. She is helping him up the hill where there are dangerous trained hogs ready to eat him. The green triangle is the tycoons young daughter trying to save her father.
The box contained dangerous (but valuable) nuclear material. The dog and bear were trying to steal it.
The rabbit represents Israel and the ball is Palestine. The rabbit on the right was the USA giving Israel the go ahead to continue its play; the rabbit on the left was the PLO trying to take back what is rightfully theirs.
Seems to me 80% of children are evil.
huh? tell me that you were joking?
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
These kuffars come up with silly fairy tale stories calling them theories, like feud saying kids are empty slate or have Oedipus Rex syndrome and what not crap. We alhamdulillah already have all the answers. What we already know is what these God-less men try to figure out after experiments, research and theories (guesses). Allah created the soul and instilled in it the fitrah of goodness. It our fitrah (natural inclination) to do what is good. Even prophet (s) said if you are not sure what to do then listen to your heart for it speaks the truth.
No, its called behavioural science; to detect and classify the personality and behavioural characteristics of coloured shapes and stuffed animals. I call it 'toy profiling'.
Yes I'm joking, but the point was that there are different perspectives. Alpha already answered this though.
fascinating. .. I'd like to subscribe to this thread.. every few yrs medical committees convene play around with their classifications a little.. but none is as colorful as what the psychologists & psychiatrists come up with!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
No, its called behavioural science; to detect and classify the personality and behavioural characteristics of coloured shapes and stuffed animals. I call it 'toy profiling'.
Yes I'm joking, but the point was that there are different perspectives. Alpha already answered this though.
jsut saw the last msg but I was about to open up my "critical reasoning" bazooka on you ... I forgive you.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks