Major research interests in processes of social cognition, social learning, cooperation, and communication from developmental, comparative, and cultural perspectives. Current theoretical focus on processes of shared intentionality. Empirical research mainly with human children from 1 to 4 years of age and great apes.

Office Location: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 247 Reuben-Cooke Building, Durham, NC
Email Address:
Web Page: https://sites.duke.edu/tomasellolabduke/people/

Education:
Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1980
B.A., Duke University, 1972

Research Interests:

Major research interests in processes of social cognition, social learning, cooperation, and communication from developmental, comparative, and cultural perspectives. Current theoretical focus on processes of shared intentionality. Empirical research mainly with human children from 1 to 4 years of age and great apes.

• PSY 490S.01, Special topics in psychology Synopsis

  Physics 150, Th 01:25 PM-03:55 PM

• PSY 890S.01, Special topics in psychology Synopsis

  Physics 150, Th 01:25 PM-03:55 PM

Recent Publications   (More Publications)

• Wolf, W; Iva, V; Larsen, I; Tomasello, M. "Young children enforce self-created norms promiscuously.." Journal of experimental child psychology 262 (February, 2026): 106396. [doi]  [abs]
• Tomasello, M. "Attention in evolutionary perspective.." The Behavioral and brain sciences 48 (November, 2025): e157. [doi]  [abs]
• Tomasello, M. "Specifically human culture: response to Baumard & André." Evolution and Human Behavior 46.5 (September, 2025). [doi]
• Tomasello, M. "How to make artificial agents more like natural agents.." Trends in cognitive sciences 29.9 (September, 2025): 783-786. [doi]  [abs]
• Tomasello, M. "The evolutionary psychology of syntax." Mind and Language 40.4 (September, 2025): 344-364. [doi]  [abs]

Curriculum Vitae