UCLA

Our research explores how values, behavior and cognition are shaped by societies.  Our cross cultural studies in Chiapas, Mexico, South Korea and Burma, Myanmar have investigated cognitive development within a changing social ecology that include variables such as urbanization, education and commercialization.  We examine the relationship between intergenerational continuity of learning, innovation and cognitive development on the individual level. 

As developmental psychologists we also explore virtual worlds to understand the implications of this newest context for development and the implications it may have on a social dimension.  Encompassing the broad areas of cognitive and social development, our topics have included sexual and racial discourse in online chat rooms and bulletin boards, online social peer interactions, television as a social agent, and policy pieces focusing on the internet, particularly in the pornography area. 

Under a developmental perspective our research interests have extended out to other avenues some of which include Primatology studies, language aquisition and gender studies.  We invite you to check out our links and pages for more information on these and other topics in our lab. 

Best wishes,

Patricia M. Greenfield

Distinguished Professor of Psychology, UCLA

Director, CDMC@LA

Latest:

Greenfield and Jean Twenge,  professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, have received a two year grant from Russell Sage Foundation: The Effects of the Great Recession on Young People’s Values and Behaviors. 

Seymour Fox Memorial Lectures: Greenfield on “Linking Social Change and Developmental Change:  Shifting Pathways of Human Development.”

Wed.  January 11, 2012, entrance at 4:30 PM.  The lecture begins at 5:15 PM.  The Melton Centre for Jewish Education.  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Nov, 10, 2011 School of Education, University of Nebraska at Kearney workshop at the Bridging Cultures project.  

BBC News Interview - Technology ‘rewires’ our brains

Greenfield presented Social Change, Culture and Human Development: The Role of Technology on Friday, Dec. 9.  She gave the seminar to the Centre for the Study of New Literacies, The School of Education, The University of Sheffield.  She gave this as a keynote address for the International Colloquium, Childhood and Cultures (Enfances et Cultures), Paris, France. 

Patricia Greenfield has won the 2010 J. Author Woodward excellence in mentoring award from the UCLA Psychology Department!