JULIA MARSHALL
ABOUT ME
I am an Assistant Professor at Brown University in the Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences (CoPsy).
There, I direct the Mind & Morality (M&M) Lab. The lab's research focuses on understanding the roots of human cooperation by conducting research with children and adults.
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Research Interests
My research focuses on the foundations of human moral and social cognition, with a particular emphasis on how these processes develop in childhood. I explore questions such as: Do children have an early-emerging sense of morality, fairness, and justice? How do these moral concepts develop and evolve across different cultures and social contexts?
To address these questions, I conduct experimental research with children aged 4 to 12, employing a cross-cultural lens to examine both universal patterns and cultural variations. In addition to her work with children, I also extend my research to adult populations to trace the developmental trajectory of moral and social understanding.
How do children and adults respond to wrongdoing?
How does social group context influence cooperative behavior?
How does cultural context shape the emergence of cooperation?
Illustrations by Molly Coyne
Selected Publications
Below, I showcase some of my most recent papers that I'm most excited about.
For a full list of publications, please see my CV here.
If you ever need a copy of one of my articles, please do not hesitate to reach out via email.
Cross-cultural conceptions of third-party intervention across childhood
with Nell Mermin-Bunnell, Anton Gollwitzer, Jan Retelsdorf, & Paul Bloom
in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
This study examines how children across four societies (India, Germany, Uganda, and the United States) develop an understanding of third-party intervention in response to wrongdoing. Findings reveal that while young children broadly view bystanders as obligated to intervene, older children increasingly attribute this responsibility to authority figures, with cultural norms shaping the specific forms of intervention described.
Does distance matter? How physical and social distance shape our perceived obligations to others
with Matti Wilks
in Open Mind
This study explores how children and adults in the United States perceive obligations to help others based on physical and social distance. Findings reveal that younger children are more likely to ascribe helping obligations broadly, while older children and adults increasingly consider distance, with social and physical proximity influencing judgments differently across age groups.
Beyond punishment: Psychological foundations of restorative interventions
lead by Katherine McAuliffe with Abby McLaughlin
in Trends in Cognitive Sciences
This review highlights restorative justice responses—such as victim compensation, third-party mediation, and forgiveness—as alternative strategies to punishment in addressing conflict. Drawing on evidence from humans and non-human animals, it emphasizes the role of these practices in repairing relationships and promoting reconciliation.