Denise de Ridder

Prof. Denise de Ridder is a Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences in the Department of Social, Health & Organisational Psychology. She directs the Self-Regulation Lab and leads major research projects like Supreme Nudge and 10 Years Up, focusing on health behavior change through nudging. Her work bridges psychology, public policy, and nutritional science.

• Research Focus: Self-regulation, health behavior, nudging, consumer psychology
• Affiliations: Senior editor of Health Psychology Review, member of RIVM and Netherlands Scientific Council

Key Themes: Her research explores how behavioral economics can address cardiometabolic risk, obesity, and sustainable food choices through libertarian paternalism. She emphasizes environmental design over willpower, advocating for descriptive norms and autonomy-preserving interventions.

Award Highlights:

• Fellow, European Health Psychology Society (2016)
• APA Health Psychology Distinguished International Affiliate (2016)

Media Impact: Regularly contributes to national media (NRC, Trouw) on topics like pandemic behavior, vaccination ethics, and food policy. Her Nudges concept has been featured in New York Times and Scientias.nl.