The social world imposes structured expectations onto individuals based on their social identities. From birth, individuals are embedded in environments that systematically shape and reinforce these identities through cultural norms and external feedback. Over time, this feedback—through interactions, behaviors, and shared narratives—guides individuals toward internalizing these roles, shaping their perceptions of what they should, can, and are capable of doing or thinking. Cognitive processes play a central role in this dynamic, enabling individuals to adapt to these external cues, align their behaviors with societal expectations, and construct frameworks that make these identities feel both natural and inevitable.

My research philosophy seeks to bridge forms of evidence and levels of inquiry to improve the conditions we observe. Anthropology allows us to compare social structures and understand how conditions and problems arise, but my emphasis remains on the living community—those whom we observe, study, and are inherently a part of. I am particularly interested in the ways societal constructs set individuals up to make decisions, and how deviations from expected norms can have significant consequences. By integrating anthropological insights with psychological analysis, I aim to understand how identity, social feedback, and cognitive processes interact, and how we might use this understanding to foster environments that respect diverse identities while promoting well-being and positive social change.