Name: What do babies think?
Uploaded: 2011-10-10T15:12:56Z
Duration: 18 min 12 s
Description: "Babies and young children are like the R&D division of the human species," says psychologist Alison Gopnik. Her research explores the sophisticated intelligence-gathering and decision-making that babies are really doing when they play.

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Alison Gopnik: What do babies think?

What do babies think?

"Babies and young children are like the R&D division of the human species," says psychologist Alison Gopnik. Her research explores the sophisticated intelligence-gathering and decision-making that babies are really doing when they play.

Babies and young children learn about the world with astonishing speed and sophistication, more like scientists than passive sponges. An 18-month-old can grasp that someone else may want broccoli even when they themselves prefer crackers. Evolution has equipped children with powerful brains and a unique, open-minded form of consciousness, allowing them to absorb, test, and experiment with new information constantly. Their playful curiosity is a crucial engine of human intelligence and adaptability.