In 1890, William James suggested that infants grasped only the basic emotions: happy, sad, and angry. Recent research has revealed:
A)James was wrong. Long before babies form their first words or attempt to sit up, they are already mastering complex emotions (e.g., jealousy, empathy, frustration).
B)James was wrong. Immediately following their first words, infants master complex emotions (e.g., jealousy, empathy, frustration).
C)James was right. Infants do not have the capacity for complex emotions (e.g., jealousy, empathy, frustration).
D)James was right. Infants do have the capacity for complex emotions, but are too focused on other aspects of development and thus do not develop the complex emotions until later (e.g., jealousy, empathy, frustration).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

James was wrong. Long before babies form their first words or attempt to sit up, they are already mastering complex emotions (e.g., jealousy, empathy, frustration).
For almost a century, infants were seen as simple-minded creatures who only mimicked those around them and were capable of only basic emotions (i.e., happy, sad, angry). Modern research with babies has revealed that infants are capable of complex emotions (i.e., jealousy, empathy, frustration) before their first words or before they attempt to sit up.

In 1890, William James Suggested That Infants Grasped Only the Basic