Overview
Major research interests in processes of social cognition, social learning, cooperation, and communication from developmental, comparative, and cultural perspectives. Current theoretical focus on processes of shared intentionality. Empirical research mainly with human children from 1 to 4 years of age and great apes.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
James F. Bonk Distinguished Professor
·
2016 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
·
2015 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology
·
2016 - Present
Evolutionary Anthropology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Philosophy
·
2016 - Present
Philosophy,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Linguistics
·
2025 - Present
Linguistics,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
Young children enforce self-created norms promiscuously.
Journal Article Journal of experimental child psychology · February 2026 Three-year-old children normatively protest the transgression of adult rules in a variety of contexts. Five-year-olds also normatively protest the transgression of rules they have themselves created collaboratively with peers. But do children of these ages ... Full text CiteThe evolutionary psychology of syntax
Journal Article Mind and Language · September 1, 2025 Linguists often characterize syntax in terms of combinatorial rules. But there is also a pragmatics to syntax in which communicators choose and tailor syntactic constructions for different communicative contexts. Great apes exposed to “language” combine el ... Full text CiteSpecifically human culture: response to Baumard & André
Journal Article Evolution and Human Behavior · September 1, 2025 Full text CiteRecent Grants
Cross-Cultural Patterns in the Ontogeny of Cooperation
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Jacobs Foundation · 2016 - 2027Humilities Across Cultures: Do Children in China and the U.S. Value Intellectual Humility for Moral and Epistemic Beliefs?
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by John Templeton Foundation · 2024 - 2026The Impact of Gossip on Children's Feelings of Belongingness
FellowshipSponsor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Georgia ·
1980
Ph.D.
Duke University ·
1972
B.A.