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Christi Bamford, PhD (University of CA, Davis) , Post-Graduate Student, Lagatutta Lab: tel: 530-747-3811 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 248 keywords: children's cognition, emotion, religion, positive thinking
Christi completed the requirements for her PhD in July 2009. Her dissertation research addressed children's knowledge of positive thinking (e.g., it's emotional benefits) and the relationship of this knowledge to children's levels of optimism and to other cognitive abilities. Her previous research addressed children's knowledge of prayer as a cognitive coping strategy.

Amanda Blattman, B.S. (UC Davis) , Junior Specialist, Lagattuta Lab: tel: 530-747-3811 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 235

Kristin Lagattuta, PhD (University of Michigan) , Associate Professor, Psychology: tel: 530-747-3801 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 242
Dr. Lagattuta's research focuses on the development of young children's knowledge about people in terms of their inner, mental lives—what a person desires, intends, believes, thinks about, and feels emotionally. How and when do children form a “theory of mind,” or a psychological understanding, of themselves and other people? In a series of studies, Dr. Lagattuta has been investigating developmental changes in children's (3- to 8-year-olds') understanding of connections between the mind and emotions. Results of her research show that children develop numerous sophisticated insights about mental causes of emotions during the preschool and early grade-school years. That is, young children appreciate that emotions can be caused by remembering or being reminded about past emotional experiences, and by thinking about what might happen in the future. Additional studies examine children’s causal knowledge about emotions following willpower and transgression decisions (links between psychological and moral reasoning), differences in children’s understanding of negative versus positive emotions, developmental changes in parent-child talk about emotions and mental states, children’s understanding of the sources of worries and fears, and children’s awareness of individual differences in emotion reactions.

Drika Makariev, MA (University of California, Davis) , Graduate Student, Lagattuta Lab: tel: 530-747-3805 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 240

Ashley Samp, Graduate Student, Lagattuta Lab: tel: 530-747-3811 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 235

Liat Sayfan, Graduate Student, Lagatutta Lab: tel: 530-747-3811 office: 202 Cousteau Pl., Suite 250, Room 235

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