Poster #13 - Intention-based evaluations of distributive actions by 4-month-olds

• In Event: Poster Session 18

Abstract

Four-month-olds’ ability to consider the intentions of agents performing distributive actions was investigated in four experiments. In Experiment 1, infants (N = 32) were presented with two events showing two types of failed attempts to perform a distribution. In the attempt to distribute fairly, the distributor first tried to reach one of the recipients to deliver an apple, he failed, and then attempted to reach the other recipient to deliver a second apple and also failed. In the attempt to distribute unfairly, a different distributor tried unsuccessfully to bring resources always to the same recipient. Infants looked reliably longer at the failed fair distribution, suggesting that they attended to agents’ intentions. Experiments 2 and 3 (both Ns = 32) assessed alternative explanations based on perceptual factors or affiliative behaviors. In Experiment 4, infants (N = 28) were shown both distributors simultaneously at the final phase of the trials, and they preferred to watch the fair rather than the unfair distributor. Overall, these findings suggest very young infants have a preference for agents that tried to distribute resources fairly and can take into account agents’ distributive intentions, not just the outcomes of their actions.

Authors

• Luca Surian, University of Trento
  Presenting Author

• Alessandra Geraci, University of Trento