Anni Kajanus

Anni Kajanus is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her research focuses on the dynamics of human cooperation, conflict, and competition from a cognitive anthropological perspective, with comparative studies in China and the UK. She examines cooperative behaviors, competitive motivations, and conflict resolution in everyday life, including social domination, peer-group conflicts in children, and bullying in schools.

• Current Affiliation: LSE Department of Anthropology
• Future Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Helsinki (post-current project)

Research Interests: Her work bridges anthropology, developmental psychology, and cognitive sciences, emphasizing culturally diverse contexts to understand universal human cognitive capacities. She collaborates with education practitioners to inform pedagogical strategies on collaborative learning and peer-group dynamics.

Impact: Findings contribute to educational frameworks addressing bullying and competitive/cooperative teaching methods. Her interdisciplinary approach aims to inform broader societal understanding of cooperation's fragility and resilience.

Professional Development: Completed the PGCert in Teaching via LSE’s Teaching and Learning Centre, enhancing her pedagogical expertise. Supported by LSE’s Research Division in securing grants.