Can Babies See Depth? The Fascinating Visual Cliff Experiment Explained

What Happens When Babies Face a 'Cliff'?

The findings of the visual cliff study revealed that infants, even as young as six months old, demonstrate a clear understanding of depth perception and exhibit a fear of falling. When placed on the shallow side of the visual cliff, infants typically showed a willingness to crawl or walk across. However, when faced with the apparent drop-off on the deep side, most infants hesitated or avoided crossing altogether, despite encouragement from caregivers. This behavior suggests that infants possess