معرفی
Dr. Burcu Ünlütabak is an Assistant Professor at Yeditepe University's College of Science and Literature, Department of Psychology. Previously, she held the same position at Nuh Naci Yazgan University (2020-2022). Her academic work focuses on developmental psychology, particularly the interplay between cognitive, linguistic, and social development in early childhood.
- PhD in Psychology from Lehigh University (2018)
- MA in Psychology from Boğaziçi University (2012)
- BA in English Language and Literature from Boğaziçi University (2008)
Her research explores how preschoolers process narrative discourse, develop theory of mind, and engage in epistemic curiosity. She has published extensively on socioeconomic influences in child development and cross-cultural comparisons of curiosity and reasoning.
Recent publications demonstrate her focus on how children interpret counter-intuitive claims, track character references in stories, and develop questioning behaviors across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Her work appears in leading journals like International Journal of Behavioral Development and Cognitive Development.
As Deputy Department Chair at Yeditepe University since 2022, she contributes to academic leadership while continuing her research and teaching. She has supervised multiple Master's theses on topics including:
- Epistemic curiosity in classroom design
- Interoceptive awareness and emotion perception
- Parental bonding and mentalization processes
- Student living arrangements and relationship satisfaction
- Parental burnout and reflective functioning
- Literary readership and empathy development
