Put on some music and invite a rambunctious 2-year-old to dance, and you'll likely get an unabashed show. But an intriguing transition occurs between the ages of 2 and 3, says Philippe Rochat, professor of psychology. Three-year-olds are more likely to hesitate before moving to the music. They may refuse and seek refuge in the bosom of their mothers. Those who dance may blush – especially if someone laughs at the performance.
"The fear of social rejection is the mother of all fears," Rochat says. "It's a very powerful phenomenon – I think it's probably even stronger than the drive for sex. It helps define us as a species, and it cuts across all cultures."
Rochat's latest book is called "Others in Mind: The Origins of Self-Consciousness."
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