About Trusting What You’re Told
Author
Paul L. Harris
Trusting What You’re Told Description
If children were little scientists who learn best through firsthand observations and mini-experiments, as conventional wisdom holds, how would a child discover that the earth is round―never mind conceive of heaven as a place someone might go after death? Overturning both cognitive and commonplace theories about how children learn, Trusting What You’re Told begins by reminding us of a basic truth: Most of what we know we learned from others.
Children recognize early on that other people are an excellent source of information. And so they ask questions. But youngsters are also remarkably discriminating as they weigh the responses they elicit. And how much they trust what they are told has a lot to do with their assessment of its source. Trusting What You’re Told opens a window into the moral reasoning of elementary school vegetarians, the preschooler’s ability to distinguish historical narrative from fiction, and the six-year-old’s nuanced stance toward magic: skeptical, while still open to miracles. Paul Harris shares striking cross-cultural findings, too, such as that children in religious communities in rural Central America resemble Bostonian children in being more confident about the existence of germs and oxygen than they are about souls and God.
We are biologically designed to learn from one another, Harris demonstrates, and this greediness for explanation marks a key difference between human beings and our primate cousins. Even Kanzi, a genius among bonobos, never uses his keyboard to ask for information: he only asks for treats.
We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites. Sales made via Amazon links on Playvolution HQ support the site.
Brought to you by Explorations Early Learning
Contribute content to Playvolution HQ
Browse Trainings
Author
Josie is an early childhood educator turned children’s librarian from Kansas City, MO. When she’s not promoting play and early literacy, she loves to spend time with her family and travel. During her rare moments of free time, you can find Josie curled up with a cat and a good book. Feel free to reach out to her with early literacy questions or ask for book recommendations.
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
-
Josie Schneiderhttps://playvolutionhq.com/author/josiejuliet/
Thanks To Our Patrons
This post was made possible by patrons like these, who generously fund our work:
Supporters
Lissadell Greene Stephanie Goloway
Lagina Kozak Michelle Hankins Marie Messinger
Fans
Jen Flemming Lizz Nolasco
Susan Warner Kelly Sigalove
Vittoria Jimerson Codee Gilbert
Monica Morrell Pam Soloman Melissa Franklin
Teresa Watson Erika Felt
Melissa Taylor Jahmeela Robinson
Amber Maurina Terra Calamari
Lagina Kozak Samantha Yeager-Cheevers
Elizebeth McCoy Sammy Cousens Ellen Cogan
Leave a Reply