Dr. Julie C. Dunsmore, Director

We study how children learn to think, feel, and act in social relationships as they mature.

Topics of particular interest to us are:

• What parents think about children's emotions
• How parents teach children about emotions, friendships, and helping others
• What children think about emotions at home and at school
• How children understand their own and others' emotions
• What children do to help others at home and at school
• How children decide about helping friends and others

We are especially interested in positive emotions (for example, happiness, forgiveness, pride, joy, contentment, love) that parents and children feel and how those feelings influence their relationships and their actions.

Our overall goal is to learn how parents and children from a variety of cultural backgrounds use emotions to develop and maintain positive relationships and to reach their aspirations.

Thank you for your interest!