How is an infant likely to interact with an object they prefer compared to one they do not?

An infant's interaction with objects often reflects their preferences through their gaze and attention. When an infant prefers a particular object, they are likely to look at it longer than a non-preferred object. This extended gaze indicates engagement and interest, suggesting that the object holds their attention more effectively. Research in developmental psychology shows that infants are naturally drawn to stimuli that they find appealing or that stimulate their curiosity, leading to longer visual fixation on those objects.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture this behavioral tendency. For example, crying more typically reflects discomfort or distress, which does not correspond to the interaction due to a preference. Ignoring both objects would indicate a lack of interest altogether, and shaking an object might suggest exploration or play, but again, it does not specifically indicate a preference in the same way that sustained looking time does. Thus, the preference is best illustrated by the length of time the infant looks at the object they prefer.