Heightened fearfulness in infants is not adaptive

Abstract

Grossmann proposes the “fearful ape hypothesis,” suggesting that heightened fearfulness in early life is evolutionarily adaptive. We question this claim with evidence that (1) perceived fearfulness in children is associated with negative, not positive long-term outcomes; (2) caregivers are responsive to all affective behaviors, not just those perceived as fearful; and (3) caregiver responsiveness serves to reduce perceived fearfulness.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2023
Source ID
10.1017/s0140525x2200187x

Entities

People

  • Katie Hoemann
  • Lisa Feldman Barrett
  • Marissa Ogren
  • Vanessa Lobue

Organizations

  • European Commission
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • National Science Foundation
  • U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

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