Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

When shown an event where an object appeared to pass behind an open window, what was observed in 2-month-old infants?

1. They were less attentive to this condition compared to another.

2. They were equally attentive in this condition compared to a different one.

3. They were more surprised compared to conditions where the object was visible.

4. They were not surprised at all.

The correct answer is: They were less attentive to this condition compared to another.

The correct response highlights that 2-month-old infants were less attentive to the condition where an object appeared to pass behind an open window compared to other situations. This can be understood through the lens of infant perception and cognitive development. At around two months of age, infants are still developing the ability to understand object permanence, which is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. When an object passes behind an open window, the event may not elicit much interest or surprise because their cognitive skills related to tracking such hidden objects are not fully developed. As a result, they may appear to be less attentive in scenarios where the visibility of the object changes in a way that does not conform to their expectations based on their limited understanding of the world. In contrast, if the condition involved the object being visible throughout its trajectory, it might capture more attention, as it aligns better with the visual and cognitive capabilities of infants at that age. This observation reflects a fundamental aspect of cognitive development in infants regarding how they process visual information and their understanding of spatial relationships.