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Professor Thomas Suddendorf

Professor

School of Psychology
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
t.suddendorf@psy.uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 58341

Overview

Thomas grew up in Germany and joined UQ in 1999 following postgraduate studies in New Zealand. He investigates the mental capacities in young children and in animals to answer fundamental questions about the nature and evolution of the human mind. His research has attracted several awards (incl. from the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, the Australian Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association) and his critically acclaimed book The Gap (e.g. see reviews in Nature, Science or the Wall Street Journal) is currently being translated into several languages.

Research Impacts

In the news

BBC Radio 4 - All in the Mind, Time travelling in the human mind

BBC Future about the intelligence gap

Reddit Ask Me Anything 2016

Zeitzeichen Article in German

Global Leadership Series Presentation

BBC Earth Many animals seem to kill themselves, but is it suicide?

Coverage of 2016 Current Biology paper on neonatal imitation covered by media such as Science Daily, NPR, ABC online, The Daily Mail, & The Conversation

Q & A with Thomas Suddendorf in Current Biology 2015

Radio and TV Featured frequently in media in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia, incl. radio (e.g., RN's Ockham's razor), TV (e.g., ABC what makes us human) and internet (e.g. TEDx talk)

Book reviews of THE GAP have appeared in e.g. Nature, The Wall Street Journal, Science, Scientific American Mind, The Times, Kirkus Reviews, Journal of the History of Biology, Australian Book Review, Times Higher Education & New Scientist.

Extracts: CNN, The Chronicles of Higher Education, HuffPo , Psychology Today, and Slate

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Auckland
  • Master of Social Sciences, Waik

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

View all Supervision

Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Anticipation of future events

    Suddendorf, Thomas and Redshaw, Jonathan (2022). Anticipation of future events. Encyclopedia of animal cognition and behavior. (pp. 349-358) Cham, Switzerland: Springer Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-55065-7_1082

  • Evolutionary foundations of social psychology

    von Hippel, William, von Hippel, Frank and Suddendorf, Thomas (2021). Evolutionary foundations of social psychology. Social psychology: handbook of basic principles . (pp. 5-22) edited by Paul van Lange, Tory Higgins and Arie Kruglanski. New York, NY USA: Guilford Press.

  • An evolutionary perspective on mental time travel

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2020). An evolutionary perspective on mental time travel. The Oxford handbook of psychology of time travel and temporality. (pp. 1-27) edited by Frederick M.E. Grouzet. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190256685.013.12

  • The future-directed functions of the imagination: from prediction to metaforesight

    Bulley, Adam, Redshaw, Jonathan and Suddendorf, Thomas (2020). The future-directed functions of the imagination: from prediction to metaforesight. The Cambridge handbook of the imagination. (pp. 425-444) edited by Anna Abraham. New York, NY, United States: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781108580298.026

  • Die Entwicklung des Unterschieds. Was den Mensch zum besonderen Tier macht

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2019). Die Entwicklung des Unterschieds. Was den Mensch zum besonderen Tier macht. Entwicklung als kinder- und jugendmedizinische Besonderheit. (pp. 10-12) edited by Klaus Rodens. Koeln, Germany: Berufverband der Kinder- und Jugendarzte.

  • Anticipation of future events

    Suddendorf, Thomas and Redshaw, Jonathan (2017). Anticipation of future events. Encyclopedia of animal cognition and behavior. (pp. 1-9) Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1082-1

  • Die Natur und Erstehung der Kluft zwischen Mensch und Tier

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2016). Die Natur und Erstehung der Kluft zwischen Mensch und Tier. Der Mensch, ein Tier? Das Tier, ein Mensch?. (pp. 55-61) edited by Johannes Weinzirl and Peter Heusser. Wuerzburg, Germany: Verlag Konigshausen & Neumann.

  • Shaping one's future self: the development of deliberate practice

    Suddendorf, Thomas, Brinums, Melissa and Imuta, Kana (2016). Shaping one's future self: the development of deliberate practice. Seeing the future: theoretical perspectives on future-oriented mental time travel. (pp. 343-366) edited by Kourken Michaelian, Stanley B. Klein and Karl K. Szpunar. New York, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190241537.003.0017

  • Uniquely human

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2014). Uniquely human. The Best Australian Science Writing. (pp. 180-187) edited by Ashley Hay. Sydney, NSW, Australia: NewSouth.

  • On the evolution of imagination and design

    Suddendorf, Thomas and Dong, Andy (2013). On the evolution of imagination and design. Oxford handbook on the development of imagination. (pp. 453-467) edited by Marjorie Taylor. New York, NY, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195395761.013.0029

  • The Rise of the Metamind

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2012). The Rise of the Metamind. The Descent of Mind: Psychological Perspectives on Hominid Evolution. (pp. 218-260) edited by Michael Corballis and Stephen E. G. Lea. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780192632593.003.0012

  • Mental time travel and the shaping of the human mind

    Suddendorf, Thomas, Addis, Donna Rose and Corballis, Michael C. (2011). Mental time travel and the shaping of the human mind. Predictions in the brain: using our past to generate a future. (pp. 344-354) edited by Moshe Bar. New York, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195395518.003.0121

  • Mirror self-recognition on Earth

    Suddendorf, Thomas (2011). Mirror self-recognition on Earth. Consciousness and the universe: quantum physics, evolution, brain & mind. (pp. 782-787) edited by Roger Penrose, Stuart Hameroff and Subhash Kak. Cambridge, MA, United States: Cosmology Science Publishers.

  • The evolution of concepts: a timely look

    Corballis, Michael C. and Suddendorf, Thomas (2010). The evolution of concepts: a timely look. The making of human concepts. (pp. 365-386) edited by Denis Marshal, Paul C. Quinn and S. E. G. Lea. New York: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199549221.003.17

  • Episodic memory and mental time travel

    Suddendorf, Thomas and Corballis, M. C. (2008). Episodic memory and mental time travel. Handbook of Episodic Memory. (pp. 31-42) edited by Dere, K., Easton, A., Nadel, L. and Huston, J.. Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S1569-7339(08)00203-8

  • Great ape cognition and the evolutionary roots of human imagination

    Whiten, Andrew and Suddendorf, Thomas (2007). Great ape cognition and the evolutionary roots of human imagination. Imaginative Minds. (pp. 31-59) edited by Ilona Roth. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.5871/bacad/9780197264195.003.0002

  • Memory, Time, and Language

    Corballis, M. and Suddendorf, Thomas (2007). Memory, Time, and Language. What makes us human?. (pp. 17-36) edited by Pasternak, C.. United Kingdom: Oneworld Publications.

  • Imitation and self-recogntion in autism: In search of an explanation

    Nielsen, M. G., Suddendorf, T. and Dissanayake, C. (2006). Imitation and self-recogntion in autism: In search of an explanation. Imitation and the Social Mind: Autism and Typical Development. (pp. 138-197) edited by S.J. Rogers and J.H.G. Williams. New York, NY United States: The Guilford Press.

  • Reinterpreting the Mentality of Apes

    Suddendorf, Thomas and Whiten, Andrew (2003). Reinterpreting the Mentality of Apes. From Mating to Mentality: Evaluating Evolutionary Psychology. (pp. 173-196) edited by K. Sterelny and J. Fitness. New York: Psychology Press. doi: 10.4324/9780203484708

  • A developmental link between the production of gestural representation and understanding of mental representation

    Suddendorf, T. (2001). A developmental link between the production of gestural representation and understanding of mental representation. Theory in Context and Out. (pp. 217-231) edited by S. Reifel. Westport, Connecticut: Ablex Publishing.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Is the human mirror system operational at birth?

    Slaughter, Virginia, Oostenbroek, Janine, Suddendorf, Thomas and Nielsen, Mark (2013). Is the human mirror system operational at birth?. ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013. Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00043

  • Animal innovation: a window into design thinking

    Dong, Andy, Collier-Baker, Emma and Suddendorf, Thomas (2010). Animal innovation: a window into design thinking. Design Thinking Research Symposium 8, Sydney, Australia, 19-20 October 2010. Sydney, Australia: DAB documents.

  • Invisible displacement understanding in primates on a new task

    Collier-Baker, E. and Suddendorf, T. (2006). Invisible displacement understanding in primates on a new task. The 33rd Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, London, 20-23 April, 2006. London: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940016

  • The development of self-recognition in mirrors and live videos

    Suddendorf, T., Simcock, G., Nielsen, M. and Collier-Baker, E. (2006). The development of self-recognition in mirrors and live videos. 33rd Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, Bardon Conference Centre, Brisbane, 20-23 April, 2006. London: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940016

  • Do chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) understand invisible displacement?

    Collier-Baker, E, Davis, JM, Suddendorf, T and Nielsen, M (2004). Do chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) understand invisible displacement?. BASEL: KARGER.

  • The nature of early self-recognition

    Suddendorf, T., Nielson, M., Slaughter, V. and Simcock, G. (2004). The nature of early self-recognition. 39th Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Sydney, Australia, 29 September - 3 October 2004. CARLTON: Taylor & Francis.

  • Lip-reading and visual-auditory integration during speech imitation in autism

    Massaro, D.D., Williams, J, Suddendorf, T., Bosseler, A and Peel, N (2003). Lip-reading and visual-auditory integration during speech imitation in autism. AISB '03 Cognition in Machines and Animals, Aberystwyth / University of Wales, 7-11 April, 2003. Wales: The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence.

  • Various

    Suddendorf, T. (2000). Various. Symposium on the Nature of Intelligence, Novartis Foundation, London, 30 Nov - 2 December, 1999. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley.

  • Will electronic media help my child to read and write? Views from the autonomy and metamorphosis perspectives

    Parr, J. and Suddendorf, T. (1999). Will electronic media help my child to read and write? Views from the autonomy and metamorphosis perspectives. Joint AARE-NZARE 1999 Conference Melbourne Research in Education; Global Issues & Local Effects: The, Swinburne Univ.ersity of Technology, Lilydale, 29 November -2 December, 1999. Melbourne: Australia Association for Research in education (AARE).

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Innovation: When do children recognise future utility?

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Investigating the understanding of probability and plausible deniability in young children and primates

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Gaining control of the future: The Cognitive Development of Foresight

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Cognition, Psychology - cognition, Brain and cognition, Brain development, Brain evolution, Evolution and brain cognition, Human development and cognition, Cognition - developmental perspectives, Development and cognition, Children and cognition

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: A-1631-2017

ORCID: 0000-0003-3328-7442

Scopus ID: 6701714445

Google Scholar ID: vTVFlTIAAAAJ

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