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Human Growth and Development / Unit 3   HGD 0359 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Social Referencing

Captions available

The idea

Social referencing is using another person's reaction to decide how to respond oneself, especially in an unfamiliar situation.

In practice

A baby at a gate glancing back at a parent's stern face, then stopping.

Where people slip

The visual cliff offers the strongest demonstration: infants check a caregiver's expression before deciding whether to cross.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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