Amanda Royka

In the broadest terms, I am interested in theory of mind. More specifically, I study how we use our ability to infer others’ mental states and predict others’ actions in order to make our own behavior more understandable to those around us. However, humans are far from the only species that navigate complex social environments, nor are they the only species that does so by attributing unobservable internal states to others. While my work with humans focuses on the elaborate and strategic ways in which we use our theory of mind, I also work with rhesus macaque monkeys to better understand the foundational elements of their theory of mind.