Jan Engelmann
@janengelmann.bsky.social
Comparative and Developmental Psychologist at UC Berkeley and Director of the Social Origins Lab: https://socialoriginslab.com/
Pinned
Jan Engelmann
@janengelmann.bsky.social
· Oct 30
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
Are humans the only rational animals?
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Thrilled to share our latest paper, out now in Science Advances! We explored the development of cooperative behaviors — fairness, trustworthiness, forgiveness, & honesty — across five societies, culturally contextualizing them & seeing how they correlate. (1/5) www.science.org/doi/full/10....
February 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Thrilled to share our latest paper, out now in Science Advances! We explored the development of cooperative behaviors — fairness, trustworthiness, forgiveness, & honesty — across five societies, culturally contextualizing them & seeing how they correlate. (1/5) www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Why do otherwise rational people disagree about the same evidence? Our new paper finds that group membership is a deeply rooted influence on how we form beliefs, leading even preschoolers to bias their evidential standards and form inaccurate beliefs.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Why do otherwise rational people disagree about the same evidence? Our new paper finds that group membership is a deeply rooted influence on how we form beliefs, leading even preschoolers to bias their evidential standards and form inaccurate beliefs.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Apes Share Human Ability to Imagine
YouTube video by Johns Hopkins University
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Thank you so much @evolutionsoup.bsky.social for talking to me about our recent research on chimpanzee belief revision and metacognition!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-li...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-li...
The Chimpanzee Metacognition Experiment ~ with PROFESSOR JAN ENGELMANN
YouTube video by Evolution Soup
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Thank you so much @evolutionsoup.bsky.social for talking to me about our recent research on chimpanzee belief revision and metacognition!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-li...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-li...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Excited to share this work done with @alex-primate.bsky.social and Daniel Haun @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social (the first publication from my PhD!), where we found that chimpanzees sustained a collective resource for longer in groups of four compared to dyads rdcu.be/e0qPR
Chimpanzee groups achieve sustainable resource use in a common-pool resource dilemma
Communications Psychology - Groups of two or four chimpanzees encountered a collective resource sustainability problem. Quartets avoided resource collapse for longer than dyads, with group social...
rdcu.be
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Excited to share this work done with @alex-primate.bsky.social and Daniel Haun @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social (the first publication from my PhD!), where we found that chimpanzees sustained a collective resource for longer in groups of four compared to dyads rdcu.be/e0qPR
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Iain Douglas-Hamilton was a champion for elephants 🐘 & one of the inspirations for my own research. He was among the 1st to study ele social behaviour & it was his life's work to protect them
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Iain Douglas-Hamilton, pioneering elephant conservationist, dies aged 83
His groundbreaking field research was instrumental in banning the international ivory trade and protecting elephants from poachers.
www.bbc.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Iain Douglas-Hamilton was a champion for elephants 🐘 & one of the inspirations for my own research. He was among the 1st to study ele social behaviour & it was his life's work to protect them
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
🔔 New paper out on Social evaluation of skill and competence in primates
@mariehirel.bsky.social, @williamohearn.bsky.social and @julxf.bsky.social made this happen
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mariehirel.bsky.social, @williamohearn.bsky.social and @julxf.bsky.social made this happen
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Social evaluation of skill and competence in primates
Social life is a continuous interplay of observing and interacting with conspecifics, predicting their behavior, and responding to their actions. This…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
🔔 New paper out on Social evaluation of skill and competence in primates
@mariehirel.bsky.social, @williamohearn.bsky.social and @julxf.bsky.social made this happen
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mariehirel.bsky.social, @williamohearn.bsky.social and @julxf.bsky.social made this happen
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Come work with me on cognitive diversity, development & dynamics in beautiful Amherst, Massachusetts! Graduate student applications are due a week from today. cognitiveconstructionlab.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Come work with me on cognitive diversity, development & dynamics in beautiful Amherst, Massachusetts! Graduate student applications are due a week from today. cognitiveconstructionlab.com
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Fully funded #PhDposition in Comparative Cultural Psychology @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social.
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
Positions available - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
www.eva.mpg.de
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Fully funded #PhDposition in Comparative Cultural Psychology @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social.
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
We will use touchscreen experiments & eyetracking to study mental simulations in nonhuman apes & human children across different cultures.
All info here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
Please share / apply!🙏
Are humans the only rational animals?
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Are humans the only rational animals?
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
For thousands of years, we’ve thought so.
Our new paper, out today in Science, suggests otherwise!
We present evidence that chimpanzees possess several core capacities for rational thought.
Check out Emily's thread: bsky.app/profile/emil...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Dr. Jane made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, and also of humankind and the environments we all share.
She inspired curiosity, hope, and compassion in countless people, and paved the way for many others.
#ThankYouJane #RememberingJane
Photo: Marko Zlousic
She inspired curiosity, hope, and compassion in countless people, and paved the way for many others.
#ThankYouJane #RememberingJane
Photo: Marko Zlousic
October 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Dr. Jane made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, and also of humankind and the environments we all share.
She inspired curiosity, hope, and compassion in countless people, and paved the way for many others.
#ThankYouJane #RememberingJane
Photo: Marko Zlousic
She inspired curiosity, hope, and compassion in countless people, and paved the way for many others.
#ThankYouJane #RememberingJane
Photo: Marko Zlousic
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
September 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
"A signaling theory of self-handicapping"
📢New from: @yangxiang.bsky.social @gershbrain.bsky.social @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢New from: @yangxiang.bsky.social @gershbrain.bsky.social @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A signaling theory of self-handicapping
People use various strategies to bolster the perception of their competence. One strategy is self-handicapping, by which people deliberately impede th…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
"A signaling theory of self-handicapping"
📢New from: @yangxiang.bsky.social @gershbrain.bsky.social @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢New from: @yangxiang.bsky.social @gershbrain.bsky.social @tobigerstenberg.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
I’m hiring!! 🎉 Looking for a full-time Lab Manager to help launch the Minds, Experiences, and Language Lab at Stanford. We’ll use all-day language recording, eye tracking, & neuroimaging to study how kids & families navigate unequal structural constraints. Please share:
phxc1b.rfer.us/STANFORDWcqUYo
phxc1b.rfer.us/STANFORDWcqUYo
Research Coordinator, Minds, Experiences, and Language Lab in Graduate School of Education, Stanford, California, United States
The Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) seeks a full-time Research Coordinator (acting lab manager) to help launch and coordinate the Minds,.....
phxc1b.rfer.us
September 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I’m hiring!! 🎉 Looking for a full-time Lab Manager to help launch the Minds, Experiences, and Language Lab at Stanford. We’ll use all-day language recording, eye tracking, & neuroimaging to study how kids & families navigate unequal structural constraints. Please share:
phxc1b.rfer.us/STANFORDWcqUYo
phxc1b.rfer.us/STANFORDWcqUYo
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Transmission networks of long-term and short-term knowledge in a foraging society
Abstract. Cultural transmission across generations is key to cumulative cultural evolution. While several mechanisms—such as vertical, horizontal, and obli
academic.oup.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Update: the deadline for the Biological Basis of Behavior has been extended to Sept 18th! ✨
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05054
Please reach out to Linda Wilbrecht if you have any questions about the position.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05054
Please reach out to Linda Wilbrecht if you have any questions about the position.
September 11, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Update: the deadline for the Biological Basis of Behavior has been extended to Sept 18th! ✨
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05054
Please reach out to Linda Wilbrecht if you have any questions about the position.
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05054
Please reach out to Linda Wilbrecht if you have any questions about the position.
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
My comment on Fillipo Torresan & @manuelbaltieri.bsky.social's "Disentangled representations for causal cognition" in Physics of Life Reviews:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I argue that there is little meaningful analogy between learning from "pixels" vs "experience," but I praise
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I argue that there is little meaningful analogy between learning from "pixels" vs "experience," but I praise
Disanalogies between causal learning in animals vs. machines: Comment on “disentangled representations for causal cognition” by F. Torresan & M. Baltieri
None.
www.sciencedirect.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:15 AM
My comment on Fillipo Torresan & @manuelbaltieri.bsky.social's "Disentangled representations for causal cognition" in Physics of Life Reviews:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I argue that there is little meaningful analogy between learning from "pixels" vs "experience," but I praise
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I argue that there is little meaningful analogy between learning from "pixels" vs "experience," but I praise
This paper really is developmental science at its best. Empirically convincing and theoretically rich. Shows once again that we cannot assume that the adult state is the default state.
Sharing our new paper published today in Nature Communications. In my view, this is our clearest demonstration to date that something profoundly changes in how infants encode the world around them before and after the emergence of self-representation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The self-reference memory bias is preceded by an other-reference bias in infancy - Nature Communications
A classic feature of human memory is that we remember information better when it refers to ourselves. Here, the authors show that before the emergence of self-concept, infants instead remember informa...
www.nature.com
July 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This paper really is developmental science at its best. Empirically convincing and theoretically rich. Shows once again that we cannot assume that the adult state is the default state.
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Sharing our new paper published today in Nature Communications. In my view, this is our clearest demonstration to date that something profoundly changes in how infants encode the world around them before and after the emergence of self-representation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The self-reference memory bias is preceded by an other-reference bias in infancy - Nature Communications
A classic feature of human memory is that we remember information better when it refers to ourselves. Here, the authors show that before the emergence of self-concept, infants instead remember informa...
www.nature.com
July 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Sharing our new paper published today in Nature Communications. In my view, this is our clearest demonstration to date that something profoundly changes in how infants encode the world around them before and after the emergence of self-representation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
Before, they are altercentric and remember better things that are relevant for others; afterwards, they shift towards egocentrism, remembering better things that are relevant for themselves - as we also do as adults.
July 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Before, they are altercentric and remember better things that are relevant for others; afterwards, they shift towards egocentrism, remembering better things that are relevant for themselves - as we also do as adults.
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
In a study of professors, women got 378 new work requests over 4 weeks vs 118 for men. Women spent more time on service, advising & teaching; men on research. Orgs should track who is taking extra duties & ensure they are rewarded and distributed fairly. www.forbes.com/sites/kimels...
Being Too Helpful At Work Can Hurt Your Career—Here’s How To Say No
Women are more likely to take on behind-the-scenes duties at work—extra tasks like onboarding or event planning—and it's hurting their careers. Here's how to say no.
www.forbes.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
In a study of professors, women got 378 new work requests over 4 weeks vs 118 for men. Women spent more time on service, advising & teaching; men on research. Orgs should track who is taking extra duties & ensure they are rewarded and distributed fairly. www.forbes.com/sites/kimels...
Reposted by Jan Engelmann
🚨We're hiring! The Mind & Morality Lab is seeking a Lab Manager to start this September. Excited about research on social cognitive development? Apply here: forms.gle/4rKXD2x1vmkD.... Learn more about us: sites.brown.edu/mindmorality....
⏳ We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis—apply early!
⏳ We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis—apply early!
docs.google.com
June 30, 2025 at 7:17 PM
🚨We're hiring! The Mind & Morality Lab is seeking a Lab Manager to start this September. Excited about research on social cognitive development? Apply here: forms.gle/4rKXD2x1vmkD.... Learn more about us: sites.brown.edu/mindmorality....
⏳ We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis—apply early!
⏳ We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis—apply early!
Check out our new TICS paper on disagreement and metacognition! We argue that disagreement drives metacognitive development by expanding children's consideration sets.
With Antonia Langenhoff, Bill Thompson @wdt.bsky.social and Mahesh Srinivasan
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
With Antonia Langenhoff, Bill Thompson @wdt.bsky.social and Mahesh Srinivasan
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Disagreement drives metacognitive development
Metacognition improves significantly over childhood, but the mechanisms underlying this development are poorly understood. We first review recent rese…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 19, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Check out our new TICS paper on disagreement and metacognition! We argue that disagreement drives metacognitive development by expanding children's consideration sets.
With Antonia Langenhoff, Bill Thompson @wdt.bsky.social and Mahesh Srinivasan
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
With Antonia Langenhoff, Bill Thompson @wdt.bsky.social and Mahesh Srinivasan
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...