Principal Investigator
Lab Manager
Lily Tsoi (email) (website)
Lily studies the role of brain regions for theory of mind in moral judgment and is primarily interested in the specific computations these neural substrates support (e.g., representing an act as intentional versus accidental). She received her B.A. in neuroscience from Wellesley College in 2011 and is currently the lab manager in the Morality Lab. She will stay on as a graduate student in the lab starting Fall 2013.
Lily studies the role of brain regions for theory of mind in moral judgment and is primarily interested in the specific computations these neural substrates support (e.g., representing an act as intentional versus accidental). She received her B.A. in neuroscience from Wellesley College in 2011 and is currently the lab manager in the Morality Lab. She will stay on as a graduate student in the lab starting Fall 2013.
Graduate Students
James Dungan (email)
James studies the cognitive and neural basis of distinct moral domains; specifically, morals targeting one’s self versus another. He is also interested in the tensions between these domains and their concurrent emotional signatures. His research combines methods from social psychology and cognitive neuroscience. He received his B.S. from MIT, and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
James studies the cognitive and neural basis of distinct moral domains; specifically, morals targeting one’s self versus another. He is also interested in the tensions between these domains and their concurrent emotional signatures. His research combines methods from social psychology and cognitive neuroscience. He received his B.S. from MIT, and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
Jordan Theriault (email)
Jordan uses fMRI methods to investigate how people understand moral objectivity, as well as sacred values that are particularly central to our moral beliefs. He is also interested in the dynamics of mind perception during interpersonal interactions. He received his B.Sc.H from Queen’s University in 2010 and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
Jordan uses fMRI methods to investigate how people understand moral objectivity, as well as sacred values that are particularly central to our moral beliefs. He is also interested in the dynamics of mind perception during interpersonal interactions. He received his B.Sc.H from Queen’s University in 2010 and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
Graduate Student Affiliates
Alek Chakroff (email) (website)
Alek studies the conceptual structure underlying our moral intuitions. Presently, his research suggests that two domains of morality, “harm” and “purity,” may have evolved relatively independently, and differ from each other both in their conceptual content and in the target of moral judgment (e.g., keep oneself clean, but keep others from being harmed). Alek received his B.A. from Hampshire College (’06), and is currently a PhD candidate at Harvard University.
Alek studies the conceptual structure underlying our moral intuitions. Presently, his research suggests that two domains of morality, “harm” and “purity,” may have evolved relatively independently, and differ from each other both in their conceptual content and in the target of moral judgment (e.g., keep oneself clean, but keep others from being harmed). Alek received his B.A. from Hampshire College (’06), and is currently a PhD candidate at Harvard University.
Josh Rottman (email) (website)
B.A. Cognitive Science, Vassar College, 2008
Josh’s research is primarily focused on uncovering the conceptual and affective components of moral acquisition. He studies children and adults, and is especially interested in purity, disgust, naturalness, and order. He received a B.A. in Cognitive Science from Vassar College in 2008 and is currently a fourth-year graduate student at Boston University.
B.A. Cognitive Science, Vassar College, 2008
Josh’s research is primarily focused on uncovering the conceptual and affective components of moral acquisition. He studies children and adults, and is especially interested in purity, disgust, naturalness, and order. He received a B.A. in Cognitive Science from Vassar College in 2008 and is currently a fourth-year graduate student at Boston University.
Laura Young (email)
Laura currently studies how individual differences in conceptions of morality (i.e., personal beliefs about what makes something right or wrong) relate to interpersonal behavioral tendencies. She is interested in the neural bases and cultural implications of moral diversity. She received her B.A. from Clark University in 2002 and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
Laura currently studies how individual differences in conceptions of morality (i.e., personal beliefs about what makes something right or wrong) relate to interpersonal behavioral tendencies. She is interested in the neural bases and cultural implications of moral diversity. She received her B.A. from Clark University in 2002 and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology at Boston College.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Lauren Anderson
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
Hispanic Studies Minor
Research Interests: Morality as a function of culture
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
Hispanic Studies Minor
Research Interests: Morality as a function of culture
Natalie Blahunka
B.S. Psychology, 2014 (Expected)
International Studies Minor
Research Interests: The neural mechanisms of utilitarian and deontological moral decision-making, morality in psychopathic, autistic, and schizophrenic individuals.
B.S. Psychology, 2014 (Expected)
International Studies Minor
Research Interests: The neural mechanisms of utilitarian and deontological moral decision-making, morality in psychopathic, autistic, and schizophrenic individuals.
Elizabeth Blevins
B.S. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
B.A. Philosophy, 2013 (expected)
Research Interests: Free will, intention, and responsibility for moral and immoral actions
B.S. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
B.A. Philosophy, 2013 (expected)
Research Interests: Free will, intention, and responsibility for moral and immoral actions
Gaelyn Davis
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
B.A. Sociology, 2014 (expected)
Research Interests: Moral objectivity, forgiveness, self and other perceptions based on moral and immoral actions
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
B.A. Sociology, 2014 (expected)
Research Interests: Moral objectivity, forgiveness, self and other perceptions based on moral and immoral actions
Trace Fairbaugh
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
B.S. Biology, 2014 (expected)
Research Interests: Internal and external motivations and controls of cheating behavior
B.A. Psychology, 2014 (expected)
B.S. Biology, 2014 (expected)
Research Interests: Internal and external motivations and controls of cheating behavior
Gabby Lewine
B.A. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
B.A. French, 2013 (expected)
Philosophy Minor
Research Interests: The maladaptive functioning of morality in psychopathological individuals
B.A. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
B.A. French, 2013 (expected)
Philosophy Minor
Research Interests: The maladaptive functioning of morality in psychopathological individuals
Mike Stepanovic
B.S. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
Research Interests: Social morality and deindividuation; involuntary memory and its moral correlates
B.S. Psychology, 2013 (expected)
Research Interests: Social morality and deindividuation; involuntary memory and its moral correlates
Lab Alumni
Angelina Hawley-Dolan – Graduate Student Affiliate (2011 – 2013)
James Ambrosoli – Undergraduate Research Assistant (Summer 2012)
Mansoor Choudhry – Undergraduate Research Assistant (2011 – 2012)
Abby Stemper – Undergraduate Research Assistant, Thesis Student (2011 – 2012)
Danny Baush – Undergraduate Research Assistant, Thesis Student (2011 – 2012)
Chaz Lively – Graduate Student Affiliate (2011 – 2012)
Martina Carmelo Perera – Research Fellow from the University of Granada (Fall 2011)
Billy Hood – Undergraduate Research Assistant (2011)