How does IMAGINATION work? What The IF… you had NO imagination!

Our guest TRACY GLEASON is a Developmental Psychologist studying relationships, real and imagined, with a focus on young children's imaginary companions.

A professor of psychology at Wellesley College, Professor Gleason studies how young children understand their relationships with other people, and in particular, on the relationships that they have with imaginary companions. By examining how young children create imaginary relationships, she hopes to learn what they understand about real relationships.

Professor Gleason teaches courses in developmental and introductory psychology. She also teaches research methods in developmental psychology, in which students conduct projects at the Wellesley College Child Study Center. At the advanced level, Professor Gleason teaches seminars on early relationships and social imagination (the ways in which we use our imaginations to help us regulate and understand our relationships).

In her free time, Professor Gleason enjoys spending time with her husband, David Kaiser, and their twins (got twins?), as well as playing oboe with the New Philharmonia Orchestra.

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Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!

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Special thanks to Illia Zheng and Howard Zheng for their help with the show.

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Keep On IFFin',

Philip & Matt