INFANT ATTENTION TO PURPOSEFUL ACTION

from: Carnegie Mellon's: anthropomorphisim.org

Psychology: Perceiving Life

Psychologists have shown that animistic perceptions are automatic and show up in very early infancy. The studies with infants track their eye movements and stares. Infants stare longer at objects that move purposefully.

Here is a robot moving in a self-directed, purposeful trajectory, making it seem animate.

Here is a robot that does not look animate. The robot jumps regardless of the situation.

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