Researchers Lin Bian and Renée Baillargeon conducted a study showing that even at the young age of two, children demonstrate an understanding of group loyalty and social norms. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that toddlers expect group members to exhibit loyalty while also recognizing their own preferences when not influenced by the group. This suggests that the instinct to adhere to social rules is ingrained in humans from early childhood.

The study's methodology involved indirect assessment of children's reactions, leveraging well-established techniques that measure the direction and duration of their gaze, instead of direct questioning, which is impractical for such young ages. The experiment's objective was to understand how toddlers perceive social relationships and group dynamics, revealing their inherent biases towards group members and the expectations they hold regarding social behaviors.

These findings contribute to our understanding of cognitive development in early childhood, emphasizing the importance of social learning and group affiliations. They could have implications for parenting and education, as recognizing these early signs of social bias can inform strategies to foster inclusivity and diversity in childhood development, laying the groundwork for more empathetic future generations.