How do we go from running around in diapers freely as infants to dressing appropriately for work as adults? In this TED Talk, Sara Valencia addresses when in development we become sensitive to others evaluations. To investigate this question, Valencia and her team designed a game called “The Robot Task”, which revealed how children modify their behaviors when others are watching. Two toys were presented to the children; one associated with a positive cue from the experimenter and the other with a negative one. The children were then given the freedom to play with the toy while being watched by the experimenter or while the experimenter was turned around. It was thought that if children are sensitive to others evaluations, both of the factors previously mentioned would influence their play. Researchers found that this ability surprisingly develops very early in development.
Watch the full Ted Talk here!
Nolyette Verastegui
Research Assistant, UConn KIDS
