Some researchers claim that young babies respond in kind to others' emotions through a built-in, automatic process of
A) emotional contagion.
B) habituation and recovery.
C) operant conditioning.
D) social referencing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Emotional contagion refers to the unconscious mimicry of the emotional expressions and moods of others. Research suggests that infants as young as a few months old may replicate the facial expressions and vocal tones of caregivers in response to the emotions they express. This suggests an automatic and built-in process of emotional contagion that allows infants to respond to and share in the emotions of others.

Answer: D 
 Social referencing refers to infants and young children using the emotional expressions and behaviors of trusted adults to guide their own behavior and emotional responses in novel or uncertain situations. For example, young children may look to their parents for cues on whether to approach or avoid a new toy or person. Research suggests that this process is also automatic and built-in, as infants will spontaneously look to their caregivers for emotional guidance without being prompted. However, social referencing involves more than just emotional mimicry, and also involves higher-order cognitive processes such as inferential reasoning and selective attention.

Some Researchers Claim That Young Babies Respond in Kind to Others