Boaz Keysar

Boaz Keysar is the William Benton Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. He studies how multilingualism influences decision-making, communication, and trust, including his discovery of the Foreign Language Effect (FLE). His research spans topics like risk perception, health behaviors, moral principles, and peace negotiations, with international collaborations across China, Korea, Israel, and Europe.

Education

• B.A. from Hebrew University (1984)
• Ph.D. from Princeton University (1989)

His Multilingualism & Decision-Making Lab includes PhD students researching language effects on Israeli-Palestinian peace proposals, bilingual emotional cognition, and psychological distance in embarrassment. Keysar has received major NIH and NSF grants, media attention in outlets like The New York Times and The Economist, and holds a Guggenheim Fellowship and Fulbright Scholarship.

Scientific Awards

• Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
• Guggenheim Fellowship
• Fulbright Scholarship
• NIH Grants
• NSF Grants
• President's Service Award