Back to Play Scientists
Developmental psychologist and philosopher Alison Gopnik studies how children learn, think, and imagine — and argues that children's play is one of the most sophisticated forms of cognition on earth. Her groundbreaking research helped establish 'theory of mind' and the 'theory theory' of development — the idea that children are like scientists, constantly forming and testing hypotheses through play and exploration. Professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at UC Berkeley, her TED Talk 'What Do Babies Think?' has been viewed nearly five million times.
Alison Gopnik, PhD
Most Influential Work
The Scientist in the Crib (William Morrow, 1999)
The Philosophical Baby (2009)
The Gardener and the Carpenter (2016)