A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

At what age did infants show signs of fear on the visual cliff according to Compos's findings?

1. 4 months

2. 6 months

3. 7 months

4. 8 months

The correct answer is: 7 months

Research conducted by Joseph J. Campos and colleagues on the visual cliff experiment demonstrated that infants typically began to show signs of fear in response to the perceived depth of the visual cliff around 7 months of age. This finding is significant because it reflects an important developmental stage where infants are becoming more aware of their surroundings and the dangers they may encounter. Infants younger than this may not yet have developed the necessary depth perception or the understanding of visual cues that signal danger, such as the drop-off they see on the cliff. As cognitive and perceptual skills develop, infants at around 7 months start to recognize the visual cues that indicate potential hazards, leading to a noticeable fear response when they are placed near the edge of the visual cliff. This research illustrates the relationship between cognitive development and emotional responses in infancy.