Kenneth R. Livingston

Ken Livingston received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harvard University, the AB in 1971 and the PhD in 1977. His undergraduate degree was in the now defunct Department of Social Relations, which provided a strong interdisciplinary background that ranged from anthropology and sociology to experimental psychology. His graduate degree was in developmental psychology (cognitive development in particular), with a minor in physiological psychology and strong background in personality psychology.

Livingston’s strongly interdisciplinary background contributed to his early involvement in the development of Vassar’s Cognitive Science Program, and is reflected in the range of his research and scholarly interests. He is currently engaged in empirical studies of concept formation in both children in adults, including the development and maintenance of religious concepts. He is also one of the founding members of the Interdisciplinary Robotics Research Laboratory at Vassar where much of his current research and teaching takes place.