A 19-month-old picks up a delicious snack, but instead of eating it they hand it over to an adult who wants it. You may think this is an isolated case, but now imagine dozens of babies giving away their treats as well. According to a study that tests the beginning of altruism in humans published on Tuesday, that is exactly what happened.
The babies “looked longingly at the fruit, and then they gave it away!” said Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, in a statement. “We think this captures a kind of baby-sized version of altruistic helping.”
Meltzoff and his team studied nearly 100 babies who were 19 months old, a time when many babies are starting to have temper tantrums, especially when told no, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians (PDF). As they approach the “Terrible Twos” developmentally these babies are more likely to act out by hitting, biting, or scratching when denied what they want.
Studies show that food sharing among non-human primates is rare. When they do share, it appears to be among close relatives, or when they think it will benefit them by strengthening relationships with other chimps outside their inner circle.
In our society, humans often respond to people in need of food through donating to food banks, fundraising or simply sharing their lunch or snack. This study delves into the question; when does altruism begin?
Using favorites such as blueberries, bananas and grapes, the study tested whether the infants would give their food to a total stranger without being asked.
After showing the baby a piece of fruit, the researcher gently tossed it onto a tray on the floor which was within the baby’s reach but beyond the researcher’s grasp.In the control group, the researcher did not show any emotion.
The test group, called the “Begging Experimenter Group” had the researcher appear to toss the fruit accidentally and then unsuccessfully try to reach it.
If the baby was in the test group, called the “Begging Experimenter Group,” the researcher appeared to toss the fruit accidentally and then tried unsuccessfully to reach for it.
According to the study, more than half of the babies in the test group picked up the fruit and gave it to the adult. Only 4% of the babies in the control group did the same.
In a second experiment, a different group of 19-month-old babies were tested at their normal snack or meal time. Since this was a time when the babies were typically used to eating, the researchers wanted to test if they would keep the fruit for themselves.
The babies in the control group did keep the fruit, but 37% of the babies in the test group gave the fruit away to the hungry adult.
Psychologist Mark Strauss, who directs the Infant and Toddler Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh, said “we really don’t know that the differential behavior between the two groups has to do with food. It could be that the toddlers recognize in the ‘begging condition’ that the adult didn’t want to drop and they are being helpful.
Strauss, who was not involved in the study said, “Finally, given that the children may not have been hungry. There really is no evidence that the children are being altruistic, but rather just being helpful.”
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo by Daria Shevtsova via Pexels
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