This document discusses studies of infant minds and consciousness. It explains that obtaining data from infants has been difficult due to a lack of language, but scientists have found other methods. Some studies have found that infants have superior empathy, imagination, and sometimes intelligence compared to adults. Infants absorb all stimuli like a sponge as they lack the mental filters developed with age and experience that adults use to process information and emotions. Understanding these differences can help adults better relate to infants and see that their consciousness is simply different rather than less developed.

3. “ Study of an Infant's mind”
By
Dr: Ufaque Batool Korai

4. Psychological study comes in many forms, but at the
heart lies the study of the mind.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

5. One of the most enigmatic fields of psychological study
in practice today entails the exploration of the minds of
very young children and infants.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

6. Obtaining hard data about the experiences and
perceptions of these youngest subjects of study has been
quite difficult until very recently.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

7. The most obvious barrier to undertaking these studies
has been that of language based communication, but
scientists have discovered other ways to collect
empirical data on the subject.
http://www.healthynd.org/images/mom_baby.jpg
Study of an Infant’s Mind

8. This data has been used in a published study which
found that in some ways, the consciousness of infants
is superior to that of the average adult, specifically in
the fields of empathy, imagination, and even
intelligence in some cases.
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Study of an Infant’s Mind

9. As we grow older and engage in more
experiences, we build up mental filters that
serve various functions.For example, when driving we train ourselves to ignore
irrelevant visual data, while at the same time pay close
attention to things like road signs and the movement of
cars around us.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

10. Infants who have just come into existence on
this planet have virtually no filters, and are
simply “along for the ride” to a large extent.
They absorb all external stimuli like a sponge, as they
have not had the experience necessary
to develop such filters.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

11. Infants and very young children have been found to be
much more observant on average than teens and adults.
This is best illustrated in the case of toddlers; their
consciousness occupies an interesting gray area in which
they have a basic set of
filters, but are still very
observant and open-minded.
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Study of an Infant’s Mind

12. Most parents have been caught off guard by a question
or idea that their child has expressed at one time or
another, surprised by its ability to cut straight to the
heart of the issue.
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Study of an Infant’s Mind

13. They may see a solution to a problem that their parent
had been unable to even imagine due to their
acquisition of mental filters, which can inadvertently
“toss out” what may be relevant information.
http://www.cm.iparenting.com/fc/editor_files/images/1042/ipgraphics/familyhealth/fhe114.jpg
Study of an Infant’s Mind

14. The focus of the mental filters we acquire over time is
not limited strictly to observational data, but also the
emotional data.
This is likely one of the reasons
that young children are more
intensely affected by the feelings
of others, as well as experiences of
loss such as the death of a pet.
http://www.waynefcfc.org/images/children_school.jpg
Study of an Infant’s Mind

15. As we grow older we learn to disconnect ourselves in
many ways from the pain of others.
This can indeed serve a useful purpose, preventing
strong emotions from unduly influencing our actions
or interfering with our ability
to reason.
http://losangelespublicrelations.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Craniosacral-For-Infants.jpg
Study of an Infant’s Mind

16. On the other hand, this increased sensitivity can
enhance a young child or infant’s ability to relate to or
feel sympathy for others, which can be a useful
characteristic in social or family situations.
Study of an Infant’s Mind

17. When we understand these differences in the way the
minds of our children operate we start to see that rather
than occupying a lower plane of consciousness, the
mental space they live in is simply different.
It is no less significant, and we find that perhaps
through their experiences and observations we can learn
something about ourselves as well.
Study of an Infant’s Mind