Psychology

Joel Johnson

Professor

Teaching

Dr. Johnson's research centers primarily on social cognition. He is particularly interested in studying systematic differences and similarities between the inferences we make about ourselves and the inferences we make about others. Some of his current research is also aimed at identifying which aspects of behavior are generally perceived as most diagnostic of the essential, or authentic, self. Other current research focuses on causal reasoning and the meaning of perceived causality, and investigates how the criteria we use to infer causality may vary according to whether the behavior to be explained is common or rare. He is also interested in psychology and the law, and in examining causal reasoning in a legal context.