Lawrence Hirschfeld

Lawrence Hirschfeld is a Professor of Anthropology and Psychology at The New School for Social Research. His research focuses on the intersection of psychology and cultural life, particularly how children develop understanding of social categories like race, gender, and age. He directs the Hirschfeld Infant Lab, studying preverbal infants' social group expectations. He holds a PhD from Columbia University (1984). His work bridges developmental psychology, cultural anthropology, and cognitive science, emphasizing how cultural contexts shape early cognition. He has authored influential books such as Race in the Making (1996) and edited volumes on domain specificity and cultural cognition.

Education:

• PhD in Anthropology, Columbia University, 1984

Research Interests:

• Children's social categorization and essentialism
• Cultural transmission and cognitive development
• Infant cognition and social group dynamics
• Racial identity formation in early childhood

Advising & Teaching: Hirschfeld teaches courses on cognitive anthropology, child development, and cultural psychology. He supervises independent studies and senior projects in anthropology and psychology departments. His lab, affiliated with the Center for Research with Infants and Toddlers, explores foundational questions about how social concepts emerge in infancy.

Labs/Teams: Hirschfeld Infant Lab (focusing on preverbal social cognition), part of The New School's interdisciplinary research network.