In one experiment involving puppets, babies aged six months old showed a strong preference to ‘good’ helpful characters – and rejected unhelpful, ‘naughty’ ones.
In another, they even acted as judge and jury. When asked to take away treats from a ‘naughty’ puppet, some babies went further – and dished out their own punishment with a smack on its head.
They suggest that the difference between good and bad may be hardwired into the brain at birth.
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So they are saying we’re all trained to be bloody evil.
This is more obvious than obvious. For reasons that are obvious. I’m not going to explain the obvious.
[Don’t be so obvious! – ed.]
I saw some demonstrations of the experiment (done at the Max Planck Institute) on a PBS show that I believe was called “The Human Spirit”, and what was interesting was that this ‘helpfulness’ activity doesn’t happen with chimpanzees. Perhaps this genetic tendency toward helping others and prefering those who do so, is why humans advanced more than the other primates. So – maybe not so obvious, #3, huh? ’cause if it was obvious, it would obviously benefit other species too, huh? Obvious?
Man, was I wrong. I thought it was organized religion that taught us right from wrong…
I remember reading a study showing that babies can deliberately deceive. Just some, not all if I remember correctly.
But it’s fascinating that even some do.
I think this is the study – http://tinyurl.com/y8gzxew
No wonder Goldman Sachs has such a hard time
finding *exceptional people*
How does this explain my first two wives ?
Anyone that has watched “The Omen” knows the answer to this.
So any idea when they’re doing a follow-up study to figure out when cops and politicians discover the difference between right and wrong?
This should be “Babies pick up what parents deem as evil by six months”. If it was hardwired into the brain it would not take 6 months to manifest.
and ppl still vote republican…
I know what E=MC^2 was when I was that age. Einstein stole it from me telepathically. I had too btw. And the smell of skunk, I knew I hated it too. No one taught me anything, I just knew!
*roll eyes*
I could do the same experiment and have all the babies reach for the bad guy. It’s all about shapes and colors.
More things than we suspect are heavily genetically influenced. Thats why cantaloupes have never risen high in our society.
If being “helpful” is an advantage to our species succeeding, why would it not get coded into our DNA?
And why is it that most societies develop with much the same basic value systems?????
If TheOne makes fun of the concept, isn’t it probably correct???
Its a good thing.
Greg Allen – “I remember reading a study showing that babies can deliberately deceive. Just some, not all if I remember correctly.”
I can say from experience that this is true. At 5 months old my son was able to hold his bottle on his own to feed himself lying down. However at his daycare the caregiver would have to cradle him in her arms for him to drink his bottle.
#15
Again, you are agreeing to something you know little about less care to comprehend to begin with. This is a study, there are assumptions, suggestions made. A lot more has to be done to conclude what babies can and cannot do.
If you’re taking this study as the truth to all, as you usually do anyhow, God help you.
No, I think the “Hitting” is a learned response, not “Hardwired”! Their parents have abused the “Hitters” !
Wait so the babies “rejected unhelpful, ‘naughty’ ones.” Of course they would.
Much like Bobbo, they prefer nice people changing their diapers and wiping the drool from their mouths!
No evil nursing home nurses for Bobbo!
So many people wanting/yearning/crying for simple one size fits all solutions.
Anyone is free to think humans/babies “tend to” do x,y, or z.
But we humans are variable and need to be taken as individuals as well as on average. Like juggling, its hard at first, but can be managed with practice.
What? Being good withough being able to grasp the teachings of the bible!? This is blasphemous! BLASPHEMOUS I TELL THEE!
If knowing the difference between good and evil is built-in, were does that leave religion and the ten commandments?
I’ll bite: taking credit for the obvious?
What do I win?
#23 The meek shall inherit poop….like the poop in your diapers.