Research

The Department of Developmental Psychology investigates the ontogeny of cognitive abilities in human children (and is interested, from a comparative point of view, in the cognitive development of other primates). Our main focus is on the early development of social cognition, shared intentionality, ‘theory of mind’ and cooperation in infancy and the preschool years.

Our research interests include:

• Theory of mind development and its relation to language and executive function
• Children’s understanding of normativity
• Development of cooperation and coordination
• Development of pretend play
• Non-linguistic cognition in infants and apes

Studies take place in our child research lab in Göttingen and in various day care centers. (read more...)