18-month-old Alan hates spinach but says, "Yum!" when he sees his mother eating her favorite spinach casserole. This indicates that
A) he will also like spinach when he grows up.
B) he recognizes that someone else may have different desires from his own.
C) he has started to recognize false beliefs.
D) he has started to understand that people can have ambivalent feelings.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alan saying "Yum!" when seeing his mother eating spinach indicates that he understands that someone else may have different desires from his own. This is an early indication of social cognition and perspective-taking abilities, where he is showing empathy towards his mother's enjoyment of spinach even though he does not like it himself. It does not necessarily indicate that he will like spinach when he grows up, recognize false beliefs, or understand that people can have ambivalent feelings.

18-Month-Old Alan Hates Spinach but Says, "Yum!" When He Sees