A 6-month-old watches a toy car go down a track, behind a curtain, and apparently through a block that should have stopped it. How does the child react, if at all? (And what conclusion do psychologists draw?)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child stares longer than usual. This is because the impossible result surprised the child. This reaction is consistent with the concept of infant's understanding of object permanence, which is that an object still exists even when it is not visible. The impossible result confuses the child's expectation and surprises them, leading to a longer stare. However, this reaction does not necessarily mean that the child fully grasps the concept of object permanence yet.

A 6-Month-Old Watches a Toy Car Go Down a Track