Babies who had heard only English or French listened to a recording of a German mother suddenly speaking in tones of disapproval. How did the babies react?
A) They had no reaction to any sort of tone.
B) They had no reaction to tones of disapproval, but when the tone suggested approval, they paid sudden attention.
C) They paid immediate attention.
D) They crawled in the direction of the voice.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The babies who had heard only English or French paid immediate attention when a German mother suddenly spoke in tones of disapproval. This suggests that infants are sensitive to emotional tones in language and can recognize negative emotions such as disapproval, even in languages they are not familiar with.

Babies Who Had Heard Only English or French Listened to a Recording