The Cognitive Contradictions That Shape Who Runs the Household
There’s a puzzling inconsistency in the way couples deploy their skills at work and at home.
Founding Columnist
Allison Daminger
Allison Daminger is an assistant professor of sociology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies the ways gender continues to shape individuals' experiences at home and at work. Allison's first book, What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life, was published in 2025 by Princeton University Press.
A Cognitive Labor of Love
In this award-winning personal essay, sociologist Allison Daminger reflects on how her research on the division of household “cognitive labor” influences the decisions she makes in her own relationship.
How Couples Share “Cognitive Labor” and Why it Matters
Cognitive labor is unevenly distributed between men and women in households. New research shows there’s nuance to this breakdown, with implications for how we address gender equality across society.
Bringing Sociology Back
Behavioral scientists can answer some questions better via a collaborative approach.
Three Ways Behavioral Science Can Help End Poverty
Can behavioral science help end poverty? We think so, and we have a few ideas.