Developmental Science of Social Cognition

Catalog description

Social cognition - the ability to infer and represent the unobservable contents of others' minds - is a critical component of what makes us human. What are the basic elements of social cognition, and what do infants and young children understand about others' actions, thoughts, and feelings? How do these capacities help them learn about the world as they interact with others in the first few years of life? This course will take a deeper look at the theoretical perspectives and scientific findings at the intersection of social cognition and cognitive development. Students will read 3 - 4 journal articles each week (reviews and empirical papers), on themes ranging from attribution of agency and mental-state reasoning to communication, moral judgment, and prosocial behaviors. In this course, students will be encouraged to think hard about the fundamental questions about the human mind and how it interacts with others, and the value of studying infants and young children to address these questions. Students should expect to read, present, and discuss theoretical and empirical research articles, and write a research proposal as a final project. This course is designed for upper-level undergraduate students who already have a basic understanding of cognitive development (PSYCH60 is required). This course fulfills the WIM requirement.