The meaning of infants' looks: Information seeking and comfort seeking?

Abstract

In two studies, the reason that infants in a novel situation look to adults was assessed. In Study 1, 10- and 13-month-old infants encountered a visual cliff that was deep (56 cm) or ambiguous (20 cm). Infants crossed the ambiguous cliff reliably faster than the deep cliff, and the first looks to mother of infants in the deep cliff condition were longer than those of infants in the ambiguous cliff condition. In Study 2, infants on an ambiguous cliff were tested either in a condition in which the mother was looking at the cliff (face plus voice) or away from the cliff (voice only) while encouraging the infants to cross. Infants' crossing times and looks to mother did not differ as a function of condition. In the two other conditions, infants' looks to mother and duration to cross were assessed when no cues were provided (no cues) or when the mother was providing information to an adult (talk to adult). Compared with the number of infants in the face plus voice and voice only conditions, the number of infants who became fussy in the no cues and talk to adult conditions was reliably greater. Those infants who crossed the cliff in the no cues and talk to adult conditions crossed as fast as infants in the other two conditions. The discussion focuses on the meaning of infants' first looks and on infants' understanding of cues that are intended for them versus for someone else.