I’ve got a feeling: Urban and rural indigenous children’s beliefs about early life mentality

摘要: Abstract This cross-cultural investigation explored children’s reasoning about their mental capacities during the earliest period of human physical existence—the prenatal period. For comparison, observable infancy was also examined. A total 283 5- to 12-year-olds from two distinct cultures (urban Ecuador and rural indigenous Shuar) participated. Across cultures, children distinguished fetal infancy, attributing fewer fetuses. However, for both periods, privileged functioning emotions desires over epistemic states (i.e., abilities thought memory). Children’s justifications questions mentality revealed that although were generally regarded as requiring maturation function, seen a de facto result existence in response prospect future birth being part social group. These results show early development, across possess nuanced beliefs presence capacities. Findings converge with recent suggest there is an arising bias view essential inviolable core mentality. The current findings have implications understanding role emerging cognitive biases play shaping conceptions different cultures. They speak foundations moral rights.