Suppose you show a newborn infant four photographs, one of his mother smiling, one of his mother making a fearful face, one of a stranger smiling, and one of a stranger making a fearful face. Which photograph should you expect the newborn to look at for the longest time?
A) the smiling mother
B) the fearful mother
C) the smiling stranger
D) the fearful stranger

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newborn infants are born with a preference for faces and are able to distinguish between different facial expressions, even within the first few hours of life. They are also more responsive to familiar faces, such as their mother, than to unfamiliar faces. Therefore, the newborn is likely to look at the photograph of the smiling mother for the longest time because it combines the familiarity of the mother's face with a positive emotion that the infant is likely to find attractive and soothing.

Suppose You Show a Newborn Infant Four Photographs, One of His