Shortly after birth, infants prefer __________.

• A. random environmental noises
• B. the sound of their mother's voice
• C. the voices of unfamiliar adults over their mother's
• D. complete silence

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the question: it is about infant preferences shortly after birth, which relates to early sensory and cognitive development in psychology.
2. Recall that newborns have been shown to recognize and prefer certain stimuli they were exposed to in the womb, particularly auditory stimuli.
3. Consider research findings indicating that infants show a preference for their mother's voice over other sounds, due to prenatal exposure.
4. Evaluate the options given: random environmental noises, the sound of their mother's voice, voices of unfamiliar adults, and complete silence.
5. Conclude that based on psychological research, infants shortly after birth prefer the sound of their mother's voice because it is familiar and comforting.