Final answer:
The researchers' suggestion that infants' ability to respond to faces is innate and aids survival aligns with an evolutionary approach, which views such behaviors as adaptive functions that have developed to increase survival prospects and are reflected in reflex behaviors like sucking and grasping.
Step-by-step explanation:
The researchers' suggestion that infants have an innate ability to respond to faces because it supports their survival by helping them focus on their caregivers is indicative of an evolutionary approach to understanding behavior. This approach would assert that such behaviors and preferences are adaptive functions that have been naturally selected because they enhance the chances of survival and reproduction. In this case, the ability to recognize and respond to faces would ensure that infants stay close to their providers of care and nourishment, crucial for their development and well-being.
Understanding why infants instinctively react to faces lies in the recognition that certain reflex behaviors, like the sucking and grasp reflexes, are hardwired responses that have evolved over time. These reflexes serve immediate survival needs, such as feeding and grasping for support. Similarly, the preference for human faces and the responsiveness to caregivers also reflect innate behaviors that likely evolved due to the inherent survival advantage they provided to human offspring.
An evolutionary psychology perspective would also tie into broader social behaviors and the importance of group acceptance for the wellbeing and survival of the individual within a species. Such innate tendencies shape the interactions and bonding between infants and their caregivers, ensuring that infants receive the care they need for survival during their most vulnerable stages of life.