Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

How do 13-week-old infants demonstrate visual scanning?

1. They follow only regions of high contrast.

2. They scan the entire boundary.

3. They scan boundaries of objects.

4. It is completely random and haphazard.

The correct answer is: They scan boundaries of objects.

At 13 weeks old, infants exhibit more advanced visual scanning abilities compared to younger infants. They have developed the capacity to focus on the boundaries of objects, which is crucial for understanding their visual environment. Scanning object boundaries allows infants to better perceive shapes and forms, enabling them to distinguish one object from another. This skill marks a significant developmental milestone, as it reflects not just the physical act of seeing, but also cognitive processes involving recognition and categorization. While following regions of high contrast may occur, it is not the primary method by which 13-week-old infants scan their environment. The ability to scan the entire boundary expands their visual processing capabilities but does not specifically emphasize object recognition as scanning boundaries does. A completely random and haphazard approach would lack the intentionality and focus demonstrated in boundary scanning, which has been documented through observational studies of infant behavior. Thus, the correct choice captures the essence of what is occurring during this age in terms of visual development and scanning strategy.