Our Research
At the Cooperation and Social Development Lab, we explore how humans develop the ability to cooperate, from infancy through childhood. Our research examines the cognitive, social, and cultural factors that shape collaboration, helping us understand the foundations of human connection.
By studying infants and children across different environments, we investigate how early experiences, learning, and social interactions influence cooperative behaviour. Through this work, we aim to uncover the mechanisms that drive collaboration and provide insights that promote social harmony in diverse communities.
Key Research Areas
Our research focuses on understanding how cooperation develops in childhood and the factors that influence it. We investigate cooperation from multiple perspectives, exploring cognitive, social, and cultural influences.
How Do We Understand Cooperation?
From infancy, children show a preference for cooperative individuals. But is this an innate ability or something learned through experience? We study how infants and young children recognize and respond to cooperation, examining how early learning and social interactions shape these behaviours.
How Do Culture and Cognition Shape Cooperation?
As children grow, their understanding of fairness, collaboration, and helping evolves. We explore how social norms, cognitive development, and cultural environments influence cooperative behaviour across different communities, revealing both universal patterns and cultural variations.
Can We Reduce Bias to Promote Cooperation?
Group identity can impact cooperation, sometimes creating barriers between individuals. Our research examines how in-group bias forms in childhood and how strategies like collaboration and shared experiences can foster inclusion, reducing social divisions and strengthening cooperation.
Current Studies
Our lab is currently investigating several key questions about how cooperation develops in childhood:
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How do we come to understand the cooperative behaviours of others?
Research suggests that infants as young as one year old show a preference for cooperative individuals. We are studying the role of learning in shaping these preferences and how cultural environments influence their development.
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How do culture and cognition interact to shape cooperation?
Cooperation increases with age, but cultural differences also emerge. We are examining how cognitive factors—such as intuition, behavioural control, and social norms—shape cooperative behaviours and how early social environments influence these processes. -
Does in-group bias serve as a barrier to cooperation?
Children’s group preferences are more flexible than those of adults, making early interventions crucial. We are testing strategies like collaboration and shared experiences to see how they impact children’s willingness to cooperate with out-group peers, including in real-world contexts like refugee and host communities.
Our research uses a range of methods, from lab-based studies to fieldwork in diverse cultural settings, helping us uncover the social and cognitive foundations of cooperation.
Get Involved
The Cooperation and Social Development Lab welcomes families, students, and researchers to participate in our work. Families can take part in engaging studies with infants (6-18 months) and children (3-12 years), either in our lab at St. Francis Xavier University or online.
Students interested in research experience can apply for positions as Honours students, research assistants, or summer interns. We also collaborate with researchers studying cooperation and social development across cultures.
If you're interested in getting involved, visit our Participate page or reach out through our Contact page.