The University of Chicago
Department of Psychology
5848 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL, 60637
James VanderMeer
Background
James comes from West Alabama. Before moving to Chicago, he lived in New York City, Washington DC, and Costa Rica, doing various things. He studied Criminology and Creative Writing at the University of Alabama, and these topics continue to inform his work. James is indebted to many people for helping him transition into Psychology: Robin Behn, Gail Johnson, Walter Mischel, Michelle Miozzo, Jennifer Pardo, Susan Perry, and Herb Terrace.
Research Interests
James works predominantly with his advisor, Boaz Keysar. He is interested in something like post-rational cognition and social cognition. Specifically, affective and sensorimotor components of semantic representation and how they are implicated behaviorally in judgment, decision-making, and communication. Mood's consequences in strategic communication and negotiation. Reciprocity norms and biases, altruistic punishment, and old fashioned revenge.
