Research Overview

Professor Elenbaas will be accepting applications for graduate students for the 2020-21 academic year.

Dr. Laura Elenbaas studies social cognition, intergroup attitudes, and moral development, in three main areas:

1. Perceptions of social and economic inequality. This line of work investigates children's perceptions and beliefs about inequalities between social groups in society, and their decisions and reasoning about fair access to resources and opportunities.
2. Intergroup attitudes in peer interactions. This line of work investigates how children's stereotypes about social groups impact their judgments about social exclusion and inclusion.
3. Developing moral concerns. This line of work investigates children's reasoning about complex moral issues like justice, rights, discrimination, and others' welfare.

Across these three areas, Dr. Elenbaas' research examines how social (e.g., group identity), cognitive (e.g., reasoning), and environmental (e.g., school diversity) factors contribute to moral development and intergroup attitudes in children's and adolescents' everyday lives.

Selected Publications

• For recent publications, please visit the Social Cognitive Development lab website.