H. Clark Barrett

H. Clark Barrett is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the Department of Anthropology within the College of Social Sciences. His research focuses on evolutionary psychology, biological anthropology, and cognitive development, particularly studying hunter-gatherer societies in South America such as the Shuar and Achuar. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (1999), and conducted postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin (1999–2001).

Barrett's work examines the evolution of human cognition, including theory of mind, learning about danger, and cross-cultural variation in moral judgment. He has collaborated extensively with psychologists and social scientists on topics ranging from infant-directed speech to the evolution of morality. His fieldwork integrates anthropological and psychological methodologies to explore how cultural transmission interacts with evolved cognitive mechanisms.

Key research themes include prepared learning about danger in children, the ecological basis of cooperation, and the role of cultural norms in shaping decision-making. His publications span journals like Evolution and Human Behavior, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and Cognition, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to understanding human cognition's evolutionary origins.