a thought-provoking question. I think it's an instinct-driven behaviour but more because when one sits in a corner any threat must approach through your line of vision. I doubt rectangular dwellings have been a factor for long enough to have much of a selection for earthquake protection. It would be interesting to see if the preference for corners is general across different species - I'd guess that it would be.

Thank you Charles Mitz for your contribution to solve this mystery. I wonder if the building was circular what would this child had done? Anyhow, he has grown older now and doesn't sit in corners anymore or even remember that he did.

it is not an instinct-driven behavior nor has any connection to earthquake.

Dear @ Sushil Gupta,

Do you mean other children at that age do the same? I have never seen or heard about it. Maybe you have.

Yes, it might be, fear and defense comes through our genes along with many other things, so hereditary effects can lead to act in a certain way.

Dear @ Michael,

Children at such age feel insecure and always feel secure only in the presence of parents or someone very close to the family. It is a child psychology!

Dear @ Sushil Gupta,

I understand that children would feel insecure if left on their own. However, this child would be "drawn" into the corners even if he was with his grandfather! I am sure there is another phenomenon happening at the time.

This may sound strange but I prefer to have static elements behind me when I sit in a place I don't know well. I recognize that mine is a deliberate decision made so that I have a view of the movement in the room, and so that I am in a position to react or to respond should such a need arise.

I am not suggesting that the boy is doing this for the same reason, maybe he figured out that corners are easier for leaning, or the echos from the wall were comforting, or like all of us he felt comfortable when surrounded by the right things (blanket, hug, friends...) and had associated it with the wall on two sides, and loved ones before him.

The speculation could last forever, but my favorite to consider is that he thought of the corner as his fort, and was plotting a sortie should someone besiege his little castle.

I was a little boy once.... now you make me miss being able to build forts without people thinking I should act my age.... Neat kid by the way.

Thank you Professor @ Sajda TahaMahmood,

This child was sitting in corners as soon as he was able to walk and until about 2 years old. If you show him pictures now he doesn't know why he was sitting there!

I agree with you that such behaviour needs to be studied by someone so that the rest of us can learn something new, perhaps.

Thank you for your contribution!

Michael

Dear Professor @ Spencer Miles,

The idea of a fort sounds convincing, because this child has a big appetite for making forts since then. His forts are really complicated with compartments for all occasions and for all functions of a house: baby rooms, study rooms, toy rooms, food storage rooms and plenty of picnic areas.

Thank you very much for your contribution,

Michael

Good observation. Children do sit at the corner for a reason best known to them but unfortunately they can't explain that. Judging from the experience, one could say it is safer especially when one is afraid of falling.

Thank you Prof. Segun Michael Abegunde,

You mean you have seen other children sitting in corners? When this guy sits to read a book or play an instrument he is not afraid of falling. He has lots of chairs his size to sit, if he wanted. There was some instinctive force compelling him to find a corner spot. Making the corner a sort of a "fort" is a good suggestion; but I was more inclined to see a connection with earthquakes.

I wouldn't claim it is then "confirmed" - but knowing my own and other's proclivities towards defensive architecture at a very young age, I'd say that this casts severe doubt over tabula rasa.

When I was very young, it was terribly important to me that all of my forts have not only a place to urinate, but also a functioning "sewer system". Honestly, seeing as I was six years old, it became rather funny. Still remember the first cesspit I ever built - had a channel running from a "toilet" to a pit covered with a bucket lid. My brothers and I ensured that it was functional.

As I recall, it was a "campground" that I had built that people could pay $0.25 a night to stay, and one of the sites had a matchbox car under a piece of cardboard, so that whoever walked into that site would set off the siren on the car and win the prize. Never got around to defining what that prize was, but all things considered, I think it was pretty elaborate for a six year old.

Sorry to be a bit strange... thanks for provoking a memory that made me smile. If that boy wants to build a fighter jet... get him a gas turbine :)

It looks like very young people have a driving force behind them to achieve. Nobody dear Prof. @ Spencer Miles was organizing you and your brothers to create such elaborate forts, it was part of your "make-up" that you were born with.

You made me understand that "forts" are the expression of a creative force inside a new human being that will lead to future creative machines, maybe.

Actually when this little fellow saw my 1960's mini car first time, he hugged it (!) probably thinking it was made for him to play with. I told him he should make it electric so that it doesn't make a noise when running. I am sure he could do that when he grows up.