Babies’ Reactions to Puppets and Perceived Differences
The concept of babies wanting to mistreat puppets who are different from them is fascinating. It raises questions about the innate nature of humans and whether we are born good or bad (CBS News). There may be some validity to the theory that people are born with particular predispositions, as newborns may have an innate drive to mistreat others who are different from them.
This habit could be a product of our evolutionary past, according to one theory. Like many other animals, humans have evolved to be suspicious of individuals who are unlike themselves. In the past, when meeting strangers could mean the difference between life and death, this impulse may have served people well (CBS News). This impulse, however, can lead to bias and discrimination in contemporary culture.
This behavior may also result from socialization, another contributing factor. Babies acquire new skills by observing the world around them and imitating the actions they see. They could absorb these attitudes and actions if they witness adults acting insensitively toward others who are different from them.
Connection Between Implicit Bias and Policy Formation
It is possible to interpret this preference for similarity or difference in newborns’ perception as an example of unconscious bias. Implicit bias refers to attitudes or prejudices that influence our perceptions, behavior, and decisions without our awareness. In this situation, babies’ preference for puppets with a similar appearance may result from an unconscious bias towards people who resemble them (CBS News). Additionally, this propensity for resemblance may align with societal norms and political ideologies. People often identify good traits with members of a dominant group or race while perceiving those who are different as inferior or less attractive, for example, in civilizations where that group or race is the majority.
Strategies to Resist and Reduce Implicit Bias
To resist this type of implicit bias, it is essential to recognize that all living beings deserve respect and kindness, regardless of their physical appearance or capabilities. We must also be aware that how we treat puppets and other inanimate items might affect how we treat actual living things. Using empathy is one approach to combat the unconscious bias that newborns are treated worse than puppets. Empathy includes thinking what it would be like to be in someone else’s situation and putting ourselves in their shoes. In this way, we can better understand how our behaviors may affect others, particularly those of puppets and young children.
Work Cited
CBS News. “Born Good? Babies Help Unlock the Origins of Morality.” YouTube.