b. 1963
Jonathan Haidt (born 1963) is an American social psychologist and professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, known for his empirical research on moral psychology and political polarization. He developed Social Intuitionist theory, arguing that moral judgments arise from rapid intuition rather than deliberate reasoning, and co-developed Moral Foundations Theory, which identifies six innate psychological systems underlying human morality across cultures. His work bridges evolutionary psychology, philosophy, and political science.
Co-developed Moral Foundations Theory, proposing six universal moral foundations underlying cross-cultural ethical variation
Formulated Social Intuitionist Model of moral judgment, challenging rationalist accounts of ethics
Authored The Righteous Mind (2012), a landmark analysis of moral psychology and political polarization
Drew connections between Eastern moral philosophy (Mencius, Xunzi) and empirical moral psychology
Co-authored The Coddling of the American Mind (2018), influencing debates on education and resilience