What experiment aimed to show that infants possess depth perception?

The visual cliff experiment is a landmark study in developmental psychology that specifically aimed to investigate whether infants have depth perception. In this experiment, a shallow side and a deep side were created using a transparent surface that appeared to drop off, simulating a cliff. Infants were placed on the shallow side and encouraged to crawl across to a caregiver on the deep side.

The results showed that most infants were hesitant to crawl over the deep side, suggesting that they could perceive depth even at a young age. The visual cliff experiment demonstrated that infants as young as six months old possess a sense of depth perception, as they were more likely to stay on the safe shallow side despite the visual cues suggesting they could cross safely. This ability to discern depth is crucial for navigating their environment safely, indicating that the development of perceptual skills begins early in life.