In the first few months, infants can do which of the following by reading faces and tones of voice?

In the first few months, infants can do which of the following by reading faces and tones of voice?

• A. Discern whether a positive or negative emotion is being expressed.
• B. Understand what emotions mean.
• C. Respond in kind to others' emotional cues.
• D. Recognize their own emotions similarly.

Answer: (A)

Infants in the first months mainly pick up on the valence of emotions from faces and voice tones. They can tell when someone is expressing something positive (a smile, a warm, cheerful tone) or something negative (a frown, a harsh or distressed voice). That basic ability to distinguish good from bad emotional cues lays the groundwork for social interaction. Understanding what those emotions mean conceptually, or labeling them, requires more advanced cognitive development and experience, which develops later. Similarly, truly responding in kind to others' emotions or recognizing their own emotions involves longer-term social and self-awareness that isn’t yet present in the earliest months.

Infants in the first months mainly pick up on the valence of emotions from faces and voice tones. They can tell when someone is expressing something positive (a smile, a warm, cheerful tone) or something negative (a frown, a harsh or distressed voice). That basic ability to distinguish good from bad emotional cues lays the groundwork for social interaction.

Understanding what those emotions mean conceptually, or labeling them, requires more advanced cognitive development and experience, which develops later. Similarly, truly responding in kind to others' emotions or recognizing their own emotions involves longer-term social and self-awareness that isn’t yet present in the earliest months.