ABSTRACT: I will describe recent research examining the surprising ways in which the actions we perform shape our thought processes, reflecting the sensitivity of perception and cognition to behavioral contexts. I will present evidence that experience-driven plasticity tunes visual cognition to facilitate action, leading vision to prioritize action-relevant information both when observers act alone and with a partner. I will then discuss how actions performed in a social context can influence how we perceive those around us, and, reciprocally, how our perception of others’ physical characteristics shapes how we coordinate behaviors with other people.