CLA Babies In and Out of the Womb Theorists

Question 1

DeCasper and Spence (1986)

Babies and books

Answer 1

• Babies sucked their dummies more when mothers read the same story aloud that they did in the last six months of pregnancy.
• Suggests that, even in the womb, babies are familliar with the sounds, rhythms and intonations.

Question 2

Mehler et al

French babies

Answer 2

• 4 day old French babies sucked on dummies more when exposed to French as opposed to English and Italian.
• Suggests that, even in the womb, babies are familliar with the sounds, rhythms and intonations.

Question 3

Fitzpatrick (2002)

unborn baby’s heart rate.

Answer 3

• Found that the heart rate of an unborn baby slowed when hearing their mother’s voice.
• Suggests that, even in the womb, babies are familliar with the sounds, rhythms and intonations.