Professor Dr. Charles Trautmann

Biography

Charles Trautmann is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. His research focuses on the early roots of adult environmental attitudes and behaviors, particularly how experiences during preschool years (ages 0-5) influence decision-making in adulthood (ages 30-60) related to global environmental issues. Trautmann employs experimental methods in social science research to investigate the associations between early childhood experiences and environmentally significant behavior, which he defines as actions that have a significant, direct or indirect influence on climate change-related issues and personal choices concerning transportation, housing, and food. He is currently developing a novel methodological approach called the 'Folded Longitudinal' method to explore these effects over long timespans (3-6 decades), addressing the limitations of traditional retrospective methods and infantile amnesia. This innovative approach involves surveying adults about their current environmental behaviors and their early childhood experiences, thereby providing insights into the long-term impacts of early development on adult behavior.

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