I had this question on a test, does anyone know the answer?

Which emotion do babies, human babies, develop last?
happiness
disgust
anger
fear

I don't "know" what might be considered the correct answer, but my guess would have to be disgust. That seems to me to be too complex a blend of emotions requiring experience. But welcome to AnswerPool and hang on, someone else will probably "know" the right answer, for sure.

What a strange question.

'Disgust' maybe isn't really an emotion - it's a physical reaction to potentially harmful smells and foods. (But, then, aren't all emotions basically physical reactions, to begin with...) I think babies are born with 'disgust' reflexes, anyway. The social emotion 'disgust' - as in "I am disgusted by his political opinions" - would have to come later. The question should maybe have defined disgust.

Babies certainly show a kind of fear from the earliest stage - they obviously know when they have been left alone and vulnerable.

'Happiness' is also difficult to define. Babies can surely feel content from the very start; warm, well-fed, comfortable and reassured. Is that happiness? They might tend to show their happiness by sleeping, rather than singing and dancing, but that needn't mean it's not really happiness.

Maybe the question should have defined what it means by 'emotion', too. Does it take an 'emotion' to be an observable feeling, or some such idea?

I'd guess the answer is anger. Anger would be a completely useless emotion in babies. Anger evolved (maybe) as a way to ensure effective self-defence; 'fight or flight'. Babies can do neither. Yet babies might show distress or frustration, which might be interpreted as 'anger'.

quote:

fear
disgust
anger
happiness

Well, they're born with innate fears, e.g. falling, so fear is out.

And they can put their tongues into reverse, if something strange or unpleasant is spooned in, so disgust is out.

And a hungry baby is the picture of fury, if his meal is delayed. So anger is out.

So I guess it's happiness. Babies can appear contented, if they're warm, full, dry and secure. But you don't see a real smile until they're a few weeks old.

Actually newborns show disgust in response to bitter tastes or response to painful stimuli. At 3-4 months they show anger and at 5-7 months laugh and fear comes last, around 7-8 months. Some sources show that fear develops around 9 months.

The psychology department of Carnegie Mellon has published more information on emotional development.

Thank you all very much