How do children learn to be face-recognition ‘specialists’?

During the first year of life, infants seem to lose the ability to tell the difference between faces they see frequently (i.e.: primary caregivers) and less frequently (i.e.: animal faces). This study asked: How do children develop the ability to recognize faces, and how might being exposed to one face type more than another affect children’s face processing abilities?

Do young children know that property can change owners?

Children claim toys as soon as they can talk. Learning to share, and understanding when property can be given away, takes children a long time. This study examines how children (ages 2.5 to 5 years) learn the rules of ownership.

How do children's explanations affect their beliefs about the world?

This study examined how children's explanations may help them learn about other people's minds. We used a "false belief task", which explored whether children understand that a person can hold a belief about the world that is not true.

How do children learn stereotypes about groups of people?

This study asked: are stereotypes learned, or an inevitable consequence of the way our minds are wired? The study explored the conditions that affect children’s formation of stereotypes and their opinions about social groups.

What does “I’m sorry” mean to young children?

Most parents want their children to learn to say “I’m sorry” – but many parents wonder what these words really mean to young children. This research asked: Do children view prompted and spontaneous apologies differently?

Are children generous or selfish?

It is widely believed that children are selfish and have difficulty learning how to share, but is this true? This study examined children's willingness to share with a child they have never met. We hoped to learn more about how children ages 3 - 6 learn to be generous.

Can kids’ willpower be worn out like a muscle?

Fighting temptation is a notoriously difficult challenge we all face every day. Recent research suggests it gets even harder the more you do it – social psychologists have shown that if you do one thing that requires self-control (such as eating some radishes but not any of the chocolate chip cookies on the next plate over) then you’re worse than usual at a second task also requiring self-control. It seems like our willpower is like the strength of a muscle – as we exercise it, it gets worn out.

What leads to generous and selfish behaviors in children?

Young children know that sharing is better than selfishness, yet they often have a hard time allocating resources fairly. This study examines some of the factors that may lead to this gap between thinking and motivation.

How do children’s understandings of other people’s thoughts change with age?

When they are around 2 or 3 years old, children begin to recognize aspects of other people that cannot be seen (i.e.: desires, feelings, and thoughts). However, it takes a few years before children learn that other people’s feelings, desires, and beliefs can be different from their own, and how to deal with these differences. This emerging ability is known as 'Theory of Mind'.

Although Theory of Mind has been studied intensely in infants and preschool children, surprisingly little is known about how school-aged children's Theory of Mind continues to change as they grow and develop.

How do kids tell right from wrong?

Have you ever reprimanded your child, only to hear them say, “But I didn’t mean to!” ? Understanding when we are responsible for accidents and when we are not is an important part of child development. This study asks: How do children judge accidental behavior?