While the idea of universal baby fears is common, research suggests that what babies are assumed to fear isn't always accurate. The belief that infants are inherently afraid of things like snakes, spiders, heights, and strangers is challenged by scientific review. However, focusing on stimuli that are potentially fear-inducing, here are three things that are often associated with fear responses in babies:
Based on the provided reference, it is difficult to definitively name three things babies are scared of, because the provided review challenges traditional interpretations of fear in infants. However, the review mentions three stimuli that are often thought to induce fear.
Here are three potentially fear-inducing stimuli for babies:
- Snakes and Spiders: Traditionally, it's thought babies might have an innate fear of these creatures.
- Heights: The fear of falling, or heights, is another commonly assumed fear in infants.
- Strangers: Stranger anxiety is a well-known developmental phase where babies show distress around unfamiliar people.
It's important to remember that the research challenges the traditional interpretation of these stimuli always causing fear. It's more accurate to say these are stimuli to which infants' responses have been historically misinterpreted as fear.
