Research Scientists
Joshua Weller
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is a Research Scientist interested in how affective and cognitive processes contribute to our ability to make advantageous decisions across the lifespan. To address this, he has utilized a wide range of populations, including children and pre-teens, older adults, and brain lesion patients. In his work with children, Dr. Weller has investigated the development of children’s risky decision making abilities, both in terms of the stability of risk preferences and the development of adaptive decision strategies. Dr. Weller has also researched the neural correlates of decision making, with an emphasis on how structures important for emotion influence our ability to make advantageous choices. Additionally, he is interested in how individual differences in affective traits influence risky decision making, not only when taking risks to achieve gains, but also to avoid losses. The ultimate aim of his research program is to integrate neurological and behavioral research in order to better understand the developmental trajectory of competent decision making throughout the lifespan. |
Selected Publications
Levin, I. P., Weller, J. A., Pederson, A. A., & Harshman, L. A. (2007). Age-related differences in adaptive decision making: Sensitivity to expected value in risky choice. Judgment and Decision Making, 2(4), 225-233. Retrieved November 13, 2007, from http:// journal.sjdm.org/jdm7404.pdf
Weller, J. A., Levin, I.P., Shiv, B., Bechara, A. (2007). Neural correlates of adaptive decision making for risky gains and losses. Psychological Science 18(11), 958-964.