Jessica Sommerville, PhD

Jessica A. Sommerville is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto and a developmental scientist whose research examines the origins of motivation, moral cognition, and social behavior in infancy and early childhood. Her work integrates experimental methods with innovative tools, including app-based and remote testing, to understand how young children come to evaluate others, make decisions, and persist in the face of challenge. She has led large-scale, funded research programs on the developmental origins of decision-making, social learning, and generosity, supported by agencies including NSERC, SSHRC, NIH, and the John Templeton Foundation.

Dr. Sommerville’s research has advanced understanding of how early experiences—particularly social and linguistic input from caregivers—shape children’s beliefs about effort, fairness, and moral character. Her recent work investigates why young children often choose to exert effort and how beliefs about effort, agency, and self-change support persistence and learning. She has published widely in leading journals including Developmental Psychology, Cognition, and Nature Human Behaviour.

In addition to her research, Sommerville is deeply engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific leadership. She currently serves as President-Elect of the International Congress of Infant Studies and as Associate Editor of Child Development.

COI Statement: Dr. Sommerville has nothing to disclose.