Two-year-olds typically extend labels of novel objects by the objects’ shape (shape bias), whereas adults do so by the objects’ function. Is this because shape is conceptually easier to comprehend than function? To test whether the conceptual complexity of function prevents infants from developing a function bias, we trained twelve 17-month-olds (function-training group) to focus on objects’ functions when labeling the objects over a period of 7 weeks. Our training was similar to previously used methods in which 17-month-olds were successfully taught to focus on the shape of objects, resulting in a precocious shape bias. We exposed another 12 infants (control group) to the same objects over 7 weeks but without labeling the items or demonstrating their functions. Only the infants in the function-training group developed a function bias. Thus, the conceptual complexity of function was not a barrier for developing a function bias, which suggests that the shape bias emerges naturally because shape is perceptually more accessible than function.

两岁的孩子通常通过物体的形状（形状偏差）来扩展新奇物体的标签，而成年人则通过物体的功能来扩展新物体的标签。这是因为形状在概念上比功能更容易理解吗？为了测试功能概念的复杂性是否会阻止婴儿产生功能偏见，我们训练了 12 名 17 个月大的孩子（功能训练组），在 7 周的时间内在给物体贴标签时关注物体的功能。我们的训练与之前使用的方法类似，成功地教会了 17 个月大的孩子关注物体的形状，从而导致了早熟的形状偏差。我们让另外 12 名婴儿（对照组）接触相同的物体超过 7 周，但没有给这些物品贴上标签或展示其功能。只有功能训练组的婴儿出现了功能偏差。因此，功能的概念复杂性并不是形成功能偏差的障碍，这表明形状偏差自然出现，因为形状在感知上比功能更容易理解。