About
Gabriel Scheidecker is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (ISEK), University of Zurich. His research focuses on childhood anthropology, emotion socialization, and early childhood interventions in cross-cultural contexts.
Education:
- PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology (Free University of Berlin, 2015)
- Degree in Philosophy and Historical Anthropology (University of Freiburg, Germany)
His work examines emotional development across diverse societies, particularly in Madagascar and Vietnam. Current projects include 'Saving Brains? Applying Ethnography to Early Childhood Interventions in the Global South' (2023-2028), funded by an SNSF Starting Grant. This research challenges deficit models in developmental science while advocating for culturally sensitive interventions.
Research Trends: Recent publications analyze
- Ethical implications of global early childhood programs
- Cultural critiques of attachment theory
- Migrant family dynamics in Berlin
- Epistemological debates in developmental science
Scientific Contributions:
- Co-editor of 'Anthropology of Emotions: Affective Dynamics in Culture and Society' (2023)
- Published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Current Anthropology, and Ethos
The research emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, particularly between anthropology, psychology, and global health. Grants and partnerships highlight his work's impact on policy debates regarding childhood and family support systems in both the Global South and immigrant communities.
