Social Cognition and Learning in Early Childhood

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 4 - 6 journal articles each week (reviews and empirical papers) on various topics in the field, starting from face perception and attribution of agency to Theory of Mind, communication, and altruism. Students will be encouraged to think hard about the fundamental questions about the human mind and how it interacts with other minds, and the value of studying young children in addressing these questions. Students should expect to read, present, and discuss theoretical and empirical research articles and to develop original research proposals as a final project. This course is designed for upper-level undergraduate students who already have a basic understanding of cognitive development through prerequisite courses (PSYCH60 or PSYCH141). This course fulfills the WIM requirement.