Toddlers’ Helpfulness Hints at Evolutionary Roots of Altruism

From the Evolution-as-Engine-of-the-Continuing-Creation Department here at “QC Plaza” (with apologies to Click and Clack):

Oops, the scientist dropped his clothespin. Not to worry — a wobbly toddler raced to help, eagerly handing it back. The simple experiment shows the capacity for altruism emerges as early as 18 months of age.

Toddlers’ endearing desire to help out actually signals fairly sophisticated brain development, and is a trait of interest to anthropologists trying to tease out the evolutionary roots of altruism and cooperation.

Psychology researcher Felix Warneken performed a series of ordinary tasks in front of toddlers, such as hanging towels with clothespins or stacking books. Sometimes he “struggled” with the tasks; sometimes he deliberately messed up.  *  *  *

To be altruistic, babies must have the cognitive ability to understand other people’s goals plus possess what Warneken calls “pro-social motivation,” a desire to be part of their community.

“When those two things come together — they obviously do so at 18 months of age and maybe earlier — they are able to help,” Warneken explained.

But babies aren’t the whole story. *  *  *

Link:  Study Shows Babies Try to Help – Yahoo! News, by Lauran Neergaard, AP medical writer, Thurs. Mar. 2, 2006.