Trusting what you're told: How children learn from others

Lecture by Paul L. Harris (Harvard)
   
Children are often portrayed as independent scientists, gathering data for themselves about the way the world works. I argue that, from an early age, children also learn from the testimony of others and that this is a distinctive characteristic of the human species. I illustrate this theme with data from children's receptivity to claims that go against, or beyond, what they can observe or infer for themselves.