Institute Of Cognition And Culture (ICC)

Description

Founded by the Queen's University, Belfast as part of the School of History and Anthropology, the Institute of Cognition and Culture (ICC) is one of the world's first centres for research in cognition and culture.

This is a burgeoning interdisciplinary field in which scholars seek to explain patterns of cultural stability and variation utilizing theories and methods of the cognitive and evolutionary sciences.

The Institute postgraduate programme enables students to acquire an advanced understanding of the theoretical traditions related to the study of cognition and culture and to develop ground-breaking research in the field. Many bright minds have passed through the ICC and accomplished great things.

The ICC crosses the traditional disciplinary divisions between the socio-cultural, psychological and biological sciences by drawing from the cognitive and evolutionary sciences. Its aim is to explain patterns of cultural stability and variation in terms of the mental, biological, ecological, and social factors that bring about and sustain these patterns.

Research at the ICC focuses on topics such as

• social cognition and the cognitive science of religion
• religious beliefs and rituals
• theory of mind, agency, moral psychology, social emotions, reputation management, and coalitional psychology.

The production and testing of hypotheses concerning these topics, inspired by the related body of knowledge coming from the cognitive and evolutionary sciences, comprise great part of the research carried out by the ICC. However, The Institute often pursues and supports research that falls out of this scope.

The Institute runs a PhD programme, training students in a wide range of theoretical approaches and research methods for a rigorous scientific investigation. Education takes place through participation in research and laboratory activities, supervisory meetings with staff members, and independent study. Although staff members have fixed consultation hours, they are willing to meet with students to discuss their work outside regular supervisory meetings. Moreover, the ICC has a quite friendly and supportive learning environment. Members see themselves as a true research community.

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2004

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

Queen's University Belfast
Belfast