Looks like babies have been tricking parents. A recent study by Japanese researchers have found that babies are capable of crying without actually being upset. Instead, their tears are aimed at asking for attention, The Week reports.
Psychologist Hiroko Nakayama looked at 102 crying episodes of two babies. The vast majority of the time, the babies displayed signs of emotional distress just before crying. But one baby cried deliberately to get her mother’s attention then smiled immediately after her mother came closer.
Researcher Nakayama cautions parents not to ignore a baby they suspect of fake crying. “Infants who are capable of fake crying might communicate successfully with their caregivers in this way on a daily basis. Fake crying could add much to their relationships,” he says.
Have you ever “caught” your baby fake crying?
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Image Credit: Flickr user veroyama
