Recent research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) has revealed that newborn infants exhibit a preference for prosocial behaviors, suggesting that certain aspects of moral understanding may be innate. In a study published in *Nature Communications*, researchers presented five-day-old infants with animated scenarios depicting helping and hindering actions. The infants consistently focused more on the helping interactions, indicating an inherent inclination toward positive social behaviors.
Dr. Kiley Hamlin, a professor in UBC's Department of Psychology and co-lead of the study, noted that these findings challenge the traditional belief that ethical behavior is solely learned through social interactions and upbringing. The study's results imply that the foundations of moral understanding might be present from birth, highlighting a biological basis for empathy and social evaluation.
This research contributes to ongoing discussions in ethical philosophy, particularly the nature versus nurture debate. The discovery that newborns display a preference for prosocial behavior suggests that our understanding of morality may be more fundamental than previously thought, potentially influencing approaches to education, parenting, and social policy.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the UBC News article titled "Kindness counts—even to a five-day-old baby" published on July 14, 2025.