 |
Meet Rachel WhiteBA in Psychology, Wellesley College, 2005 5th Year Doctoral Student Interests: Cognitive Development; play/imagination; executive function; early childhood. Email: white926@umn.edu |
My research focuses on the development of imagination, creativity, and pretend play. I am particularly interested in how these skills relate to concurrently developing cognitive processes such as executive function and theory of mind, and how they may play a role in learning and coping strategies.
Currently, I am conducting a study on how pretending may facilitate the development of self-control skills in early childhood. I am also investigating the nature of pretend play, including the creation of imaginary companions, in homeless and highly-mobile children.
I am a member of the Carlson Child Development lab, working with Dr. Stephanie M. Carlson. I hold an NIH/NICHD National Research Service Award pre-doctoral fellowship through the Center for Cognitive Sciences at the University of Minnesota. Before entering the graduate program at ICD, I conducted research in the Rochester Baby Lab as a lab manager for Dr. Richard Aslin and at Wellesley College with advisor Dr. Tracy Gleason.
Return to the profile index page.