Subscribe now

Humans

Babies start showing empathy even before they can speak

When adults pretended to be in pain, children as young as 9 months old comforted them, pushing back the earliest age when humans are known to display empathy

By Giulia Mondaini

16 May 2025

Children can display empathy before they are old enough to talk

MStudioImages/Getty Images

Children between 9 and 18 months old already demonstrate empathy, suggesting this ability starts at an earlier age than previously thought, even for babies from different cultural backgrounds.

“If I don’t understand your emotions, I can’t communicate with you and I can’t respond to your emotions, so it’s an essential skill – but we only know how it develops in a small part of the world,” says Carlo Vreden at the Leibniz…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop