Which statement accurately describes habituality in infants?

Study for the ETS Psychology Test. Improve your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Habituality in infants is a fascinating aspect of their development, particularly in how they interact with their environment. The correct statement highlights that infants become less interested in a stimulus after repeated exposure. This phenomenon is known as habituation, which is a form of learning where an infant becomes accustomed to a stimulus and thus responds less to it over time.

This process indicates that infants are actively engaged in learning about their surroundings. When they first encounter a stimulus, such as a new toy or sound, their attention is peaked. However, as the novelty wears off with repeated exposure, their interest decreases because they already recognize the stimulus and no longer perceive it as new or exciting. This declining response is crucial for their cognitive development, helping them differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar stimuli, which is foundational for learning and adaptation.

The other options do not accurately reflect how infants interact with stimuli. For instance, becoming more responsive to repeated stimuli contradicts the concept of habituation, as does the idea of avoiding visual stimuli altogether, which does not accurately represent typical behavioral responses in infants. Preference for familiar stimuli can occur, but it arises from the learning process that includes habituation, so it doesn't directly capture the essence of habituality itself.

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