Background
Lawrence A. Hirschfeld was born on February 18, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He is a son of Alexander H. Hirschfeld, a psychiatrist, and Adeline (Medalia) Hirschfeld.
Lawrence A. Hirschfeld was born on February 18, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He is a son of Alexander H. Hirschfeld, a psychiatrist, and Adeline (Medalia) Hirschfeld.
In 1971, Lawrence graduated from the University of Michigan with Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, he continued his studies at Columbia University, graduating with Master of Arts degree in 1975. Also, the same year, in 1975, Lawrence attended the present-day Pierre Mendès-France University.
In 1977, Hirschfeld attained Master of Philosophy degree from Columbia University. Some time later, in 1984, he became Doctor of Philosophy, graduating from the same educational establishment.
In 1983, Lawrence began his career as an assistant scientist in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a post he held till 1989. Between 1984-1985, he acted as a research associate in psychology at the same university. During the period from 1985 till 1986, Hirschfeld was a fellow of Eugene Havens Center for the Study of Social Structure and Social Change at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1986, Lawrence began working as an assistant professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a position he held till 1996, when he was promoted to the post of associate professor of anthropology and psychology. Between 1987-1988, Hirschfeld acted as a researcher at the Laboratoire de Psycho-Biologie de l’Enfant, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, France. In the years 1988-1989, he carried out the obligations of a head of research at the Centre de Recherche en Epistémologie Appliquée, also being a head of the Groupe de Recherche sur la Cognition at the École Polytechnique in Palaiseau during the same years.
In 1993, Hirschfeld was appointed a co-director of Graduate Program in Culture and Cognition at the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. In 2000, Lawrence acted as a member of expert panel for Census 2000 at the United States Census Bureau.
From September 2004 till August 2015, he held the post of a Professor of Anthropology and Psychology of the Department of Anthropology at the New School in New York City.
Currently, Hirschfeld works at the Departments of Psychology and Anthropology at the the New School for Social Research, which is a part of the New School. Lawrence does research in Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Science. His lab's current project is "The infant's understanding of groups".
Moreover, during his lifetime, Lawrence acted as a presenter, panel member, discussion group member and organizer of symposiums, meetings, conferences and other academic gatherings.
Lawrence A. Hirschfeld is known for his research in the field of Anthropology and Psychology.
During his lifetime, he received numerous awards, including Excellence in Education Award from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of Michigan in 1994, Julia Lockwood Award from the University of Michigan between 1996-2001 and others.
Also, Lawrence is a recipient of numerous grants, including grants from France’s Ministère des relations extérieures in the years of 1980-82, grants from National Science Foundation and James S. McDonnell Foundation and others.
("Mapping the Mind" introduces a general audience to a dom...)
1994(This book provides a new understanding of how people conc...)
1996Lawrence is a member of the following organizations and societies: International Society for Research on Emotions, Society for Psychological Anthropology, Society for Research in Child Development, American Ethnological Society and American Anthropological Association.
Lawrence is especially interested in how young children come to understand and use social categories like race, gender, age, etc., and how children’s culture shapes the meaning of these categories for both the child and the adult.
Lawrence is married to Ann Stoler, a Professor of Anthropology and Historical Studies. Their marriage produced two children — Tessa Hirschfeld-Stoler and E. Bruno Hirschfeld.
