A universal of human social cognition: Children from 17 communities process gaze in similar ways

Authors

• Manuel Bohn, Leuphana University of Lüneburg
• Julia Christin Prein, Leuphana University of Lüneburg
• Agnes Ayikoru, Budongo Conservation Field Station
• Florian M. Bednarski, The University of Auckland
• Ardain Dzabatou, Université Marien Ngouabi
• Michael C. Frank, Stanford University
• Annette M.E. Henderson, The University of Auckland
• Joan Isabella, Budongo Conservation Field Station
• Josefine Kalbitz, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Patricia Kanngiesser, School of Psychology
• Dilara Keşşafoğlu, Koc University
• Bahar Köymen, University of Manchester
• Maira V. Manrique-Hernandez, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Shirley Magazi, University of Namibia
• Lizbeth Mújica-Manrique, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Julia Ohlendorf, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Damilola Olaoba, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Wesley R. Pieters, University of Namibia
• Sarah Pope-Caldwell, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Katie Slocombe, University of York
• Robert Z. Sparks, Stanford University
• Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Wilson Vieira, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Zhen Zhang, CAS - Institute of Psychology
• Yufei Zong, CAS - Institute of Psychology
• Roman Stengelin, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
• Daniel B.M. Haun, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

ORCID

• Patricia Kanngiesser: 0000-0003-1068-3725

Abstract

Theoretical accounts typically assume that key features of human socio-cognitive development are universal. This paper reports a large-scale cross-cultural study (17 communities, diverse ethnicities, N = 1,377, 709 female, mean = 5.50 years, -collected March 2022 to January 2024) on gaze following in early childhood. To test for universality, cognitive processing signatures were derived from a computational model treating gaze following as social vector estimation. Results showed substantial variation between communities and individuals. Yet, the processing signature was found in all communities. Individual differences in performance were related to children's familiarity with the data-collection device but not opportunities for social interaction. These results provide strong evidence for gaze following as a universal socio-cognitive process despite cultural and individual-level variation in absolute performance.

DOI Link

10.1093/chidev/aacaf017

Publication Date

2026-01-23

Publication Title

Child Development

Volume

97

Issue

1

ISSN

0009-3920

Acceptance Date

2025-10-08

Deposit Date

2026-04-10

Funding

The authors would like to thank Luke Maurits for statistical advice. We are grateful to thank all children and caregivers for participating in the study. The study obtained ethical clearance from the MPG Ethics Commission in Munich, Germany, falling under an umbrella ethics application (Appl. No. 2021_45). Manuel Bohn was supported by a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship (2022-1484-00). The study was funded by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science.

Additional Links

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031631199

Keywords

computational modeling, cross-cultural development, gaze following, individual differences, social cognition, Child Development/physiology, Fixation, Ocular/physiology, Humans, Child, Preschool, Male, Social Interaction, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Social Perception, Individuality, Female, Social Cognition, Child

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

First Page

219

Last Page

232

Recommended Citation

Bohn, M., Prein, J., Ayikoru, A., Bednarski, F., Dzabatou, A., Frank, M., Henderson, A., Isabella, J., Kalbitz, J., Kanngiesser, P., Keşşafoğlu, D., Köymen, B., Manrique-Hernandez, M., Magazi, S., Mújica-Manrique, L., Ohlendorf, J., Olaoba, D., Pieters, W., Pope-Caldwell, S., Slocombe, K., Sparks, R., Sunderarajan, J., Vieira, W., Zhang, Z., Zong, Y., Stengelin, R., & Haun, D. (2026) 'A universal of human social cognition: Children from 17 communities process gaze in similar ways', Child Development, 97(1), pp. 219-232. Available at: 10.1093/chidev/aacaf017