When we meet someone for the first time, we often rely on stereotypes. Stereotypes are simple, low-resolution images in our minds that give us quick but inaccurate insights. To get the full picture, we need to learn how to overcome stereotypes.

To better understand stereotypes, we created a non verbal communication game where teenagers alternated between guiding an adult and a 5 year old child to the center of a maze, by giving each of them instructions. We measured how they adjusted their communication.

‍

‍

At first, they communicated with greater emphasis to the child, adapting their instructions to what they thought a 5-year-old would understand. But as the game went on, they began to communicate in the same way with both partners.

In fact, there was no child involved; an adult played both roles.

So what we actually measured was how quickly the teenagers adapted to their partners. In other words, how quickly they moved beyond their age stereotypes.

And some teenagers adapted faster than others.

‍

‍

To understand why, we looked at their childhoods. And we noticed something: the teenagers that adapted the fastest had one thing in common. It was not socio-economic status nor even how many siblings they had: it was how much time they spent in daycare!

The rich and challenging environment of daycare, being surrounded with other kids and adults, fine-tuned their plastic brains to adapt to diverse social interactions.

‍

‍

Through this experiment, we show that early-life social experiences significantly shape our minds. Interacting with others from a young age teaches us how to quickly overcome stereotypes.