Social and developmental psychologist Kristina R. Olson wins 2018 Alan T. Waterman Award

Christina Olsen, a social scientist, has dedicated her career to understanding human relationships and their impact on societal health. Her research, which intersects cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, addresses major societal issues like conflict resolution and health disparities. Olsen's work on early social cognition reveals how biases form in childhood, emphasizing the need for early educational interventions. In 2013, she launched a comprehensive study on childhood gender development, influencing pediatricians and public education. Her contributions earned her the 2018 Alan T Waterman Award, making her the first social scientist to receive this honor since 2005.

What inspired Christina Olsen to pursue research in social sciences?

• A book she read in college

• Her family's influence

• A famous scientist she admired

• Her childhood experiences of seeing social differences

What is a key focus of Christina Olsen's research?

• Economic theories

• Technological advancements

• Cognitive, social, and developmental psychology

• Environmental science

What did Olsen discover about children's perceptions of resource distribution?

• Children believe everyone deserves equal resources

• Children see groups with fewer resources as deserving less

• Children think resources should be based on age

• Children are indifferent to resource distribution

What is the focus of Olsen's 20-year study?

• Economic growth patterns

• Technological impacts on society

• Early childhood gender development

• Climate change effects

What prestigious award did Christina Olsen receive in 2018?

• Nobel Prize

• Fields Medal

• Pulitzer Prize

• Alan T Waterman Award