About
Professor Catrin Finkenauer holds the Chair of General Social Sciences: Youth Studies at Utrecht University, affiliated with the interdisciplinary Dynamics of Youth initiative. She serves as Scientific Director of Dynamics of Youth, a university-wide strategic theme focusing on youth development. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Psychology from KU Leuven (Belgium, 1998) and prior roles at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Her research examines interpersonal dynamics, emphasizing relationships’ impact on youth well-being. Key areas include family violence, divorce, child abuse, and trust-building. Methodologies span social, clinical, and developmental approaches, integrating experimental and biological perspectives.
Awards include the NWO VIDI (2005) and EU FP7 grants (2014). She is a Fellow of the Society for Personal and Social Psychology and contributes to expert bodies like the OECD and the Dutch National Education Program. Her work aims to foster harmonious relationships and mitigate conflict in youth contexts.
She leads projects such as YOUth Got Talent, exploring youth potential for societal participation. Her roles include membership in the Board of the Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse and advisory roles in AI4PEX (Earth System Models).
