What Children Teach Us About Altruism

November 16, 2024, at 8pm

Felix Warneken

 

In his research on the origins of social cognition, Psychology Professor, Dr. Felix Warneken, dispels the myth that children are born selfish and must be taught empathy. With his team at the University of Michigan, he investigates the origins of cooperation and morality. He will share fascinating—and irresistible– video and photographs from his laboratory experiments, showing that children as young as 18 months old engage in altruistic behaviors such as helping others to solve problems and share resources. With implications for parents and educators, he identifies many of the factors that influence cooperative tendencies throughout childhood.

Dr. Warkneken has received numerous awards and fellowships for his groundbreaking research, including from the National Science Foundation, the American Psychological Association, and the Radcliffe Center for Advanced Study. His experiments have also been featured in television documentaries on PBS Nova, CBC, and Netflix.