Foundations of Learning and Knowledge

When we observe others acting in the world, we can often infer their goals, beliefs, and experiences. 

What are the developmental origins of our abilities to reason about others' minds? How do we overcome differences between our own and others' minds?

Representative papers:
Woo, Liu, and Spelke (2024, Dev. Sci.)
Woo, Chisholm, and Spelke (2024, Cognition)

From birth, children depend on others to learn new skills and knowledge and to achieve their goals. 

What representations form our early-emerging knowledge of the social world? How do we come to identify individuals who may teach us and help us achieve our goals?

Representative papers:
Woo et al. (2022, Annual Rev. of Dev. Psych.)
Woo and Spelke (2023, Child Dev.)
Woo, Liu, Gweon, and Spelke (2024, Open Mind)

A social interaction can involve multiple individuals, each with their own goals, beliefs, experiences, etc. There can be a lot to track. 

As adults, we make sense of others' social interactions. How do babies and children come to make sense of the actions and minds of social agents?

Representative papers:
Woo et al. (2023, Dev. Sci.)
Woo et al. (2023, TiCS)