СʪÃÃÊÓƵ

Research area(s)

Ritual, social learning, cooperation, conformity, creativity, culture, developmental psychology, cultural evolution

Research Interests

I study cognitive and social development from an interdisciplinary perspective using a variety of methods to understand how children learn within and across cultures. My research has explored how children flexibly use imitation and innovation for cultural learning, in both the U.S. and Vanuatu. I have recently focused on how cultural practices, such as rituals, promote group cohesion.

Currently, I am investigating how rituals influence cooperation, particularly in relation to resource sharing, helping behaviors, and group commitment. I argue that humans are psychologically predisposed to engage in rituals, which serve as powerful tools for fostering in-group affiliation and inclusion. I’m also exploring how rituals can be integrated into classrooms to create supportive and effective learning environments. Additionally, I'm collaborating with Petite Giants to study how personalized books empower young children.