Projects in Developmental Psychology Supervised by Rachel White
Professor White will supervise developmental psychology projects in the spring of 2025. Depending on students’ interest and demonstrated preparation, they could be involved in (1) data collection for ongoing studies with children and/or adults, or (2) coding and analysis of an existing observational dataset.
Projects will relate to one or more of the topics described below:
Self-Control
The ability to actively control our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions influences nearly every aspect of our lives. From toddlers learning to share their toys to adults battling the urge to procrastinate, we all struggle at times with this important skill. My research addresses questions such as: How can we improve self-control across the lifespan? Which strategies are most effective at different ages and in different contexts (e.g., regulating emotions, avoiding temptation)? How does self-control contribute to important life outcomes like school readiness, parenting behaviors, or physical and mental health?
Play and Imagination
From an early age, children spend hours each day playing. They might build with blocks, create imaginary friends, dig in the mud, or pretend to be superheroes. But, beyond pure fun, what do children gain through play and other imaginative activities? My research addresses how play contributes to children’s cognitive and social development, how play could help children deal with adversity, and how children learn from fictional sources including books, cartoons, and movies.
Professor White will not be supervising literature reviews.