Research in the Mind Perception Lab explores how we understand other minds: What features (e.g.  ability to plan) and content (e.g., specific emotions) do we attribute to others, and what are the processes underlying these attributions?

Current projects include:

• the effects on mind perception of being on the same vs. opposite side of a controversial issue, and of focusing on agreement vs. disagreement regarding that issue
• how being on the same team vs. opposing teams affect the way that we perceive a competent vs. incompetent other
• how we perceive the minds of targets of our prayers, and how this influences the content of our prayers
• how different forms/measures of empathy change across clinical training
• what situational and individual difference variables impact what people perceive as funny
• how analog patients (i.e., people imagining themselves in the role of a medical patient) perceive different forms of empathic attention in medical communication

Please see the Teaching tab for a list of previous senior and masters theses.