Survey reveals even babies have a sense of fair play
BABIES as young as 15 months have a basic sense of what is fair, according to researchers.
The children noticed the difference between the equal and unequal distribution of food or drink and reacted with surprise to perceived unfairness. That altruistic awareness and concern for others was also linked to their willingness to share a toy.
Psychology professor Jessica Sommerville, who led the study, said: “Our findings show that these norms of fairness and altruism are more rapidly acquired than we thought.”
Babies watched videos of crackers and milk being shared out. Professor Sommerville said: “The infants expected an equal and fair distribution, and they were surprised to see one person given more crackers or milk than the other.”
The babies were also given two toys from which to choose in the University of Washington study published in the journal PLoS ONE. A third of them were ready to share their favourite toy, another third shared their non-preferred one, but the final third did not share.
The infants expected an equal and fair distribution, and they were surprised to see one person given more crackers or milk than the other
Prof Sommerville said: “Babies who were more sensitive to the fair distribution of food were also more likely to share their preferred toy.” The results of the sharing trial showed that even early in life there are individual differences in altruism.