December 3, 2009: Alison Gopnik

The statistical social learner: Using causal inference to learn about action sequences and personality traits.

Recent work shows that children can infer causal structure from statistical data. We will describe two different ways that this kind of statistical causal learning can help children learn about other people. In the first series of studies, we explore how children learn about how to segment and interpret goal-directed action sequences, and how this shapes their imitation and observational learning.

In the second series of studies we showed 4 and 6 year old children different patterns of covariation between actions and either individual people or situations. 4-year-olds inferred that the actions were caused by an enduring trait of the person or by the external situation depending on covariance. 6-year-olds were also sensitive to covariation evidence but they had developed a consistent prior bias towards person explanations.

These findings suggest that statistically based causal inference may be responsible for the development of social knowledge. In combination, these studies show that children use statistical causal learning to make important inferences about other people – inferences that shape their social experience.

Neil Gilbert, November 19

Neil Gilbert, Professor of Social Welfare and Co-Director of the Center for Child and Youth Policy will present: "A Mother's Work: Capitalism, Feminism and the Welfare State"

In 2002 nearly one in five women in their early forties were childless inthe U.S. , which was close to double the proportion of childless women in1976. In addition to having fewer children mother's were increasinglyoutsourcing household production and the daily care of their preschoolers toother people. Why had so many women chosen this course, particularly whenthere is a fair amount of evidence that shows these outcomes do not coincidewith their ideals of family life? Analyzing the choices women are making inthe modern-day struggle to combine work and family life, A Mother's Workseeks to understand the social dynamics governing these choices, to clarifywhose interests are being served in the process, and to explore alternativesocial policies that address efforts to harmonize work and family life.

November 5-Bob Levenson

Professor Bob Levenson, Department of Psychology, will present: See me, feel me, heal me: Empathy in "normal" adult development and dementia, at our next Brown Bag Meeting.

October 8: Larry Nucci "It's a part of life to do what you want: The personal domain and the child's sense of autonomy and personal identity"

On Thursday, October 8, 2009, our Brown Bag speaker is Larry Nucci of IHD. The title of his presentation is: "It's a part of life to do what you want: The personal domain and the child's sense of autonomy and personal identity." Larry's talk is part of our efforts to further the theme of Social and Emotional Development, but also bears on the theme of Contexts and Development. He will be describing some cross-cultural studies as well as child-parent interactions and children's resistance relevant to family contexts - especially with connections to reasons as to why parental negotiation and discourse is "healthy." He will also make some links to issues of mental health.

Fall 2009 Brown Bag Series

The speaker series for the Brown Bag Meetings this Fall are as follows:

October, 8: Larry Nucci
October 22: Sean Reardon
November 5: Bob Levenson
November 19: Neil Gilbert
December 3: Alison Gopnik

Please note the change in days to Thursdays. The meetings are held at 12:30-2:00p.m. in Room 1111 Tolman Hall.

More information about the talks will be posted later.

IHD Seminar Series has Launched!

Check back here soon!