Jonathan Haidt

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, specializing in moral psychology, business ethics, and the societal impacts of social media. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (1992) and a BA in Philosophy from Yale University. His research explores the foundations of morality across cultures, with a focus on political polarization and the effects of digital technology on youth mental health.

Key contributions include seminal works like The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Mind, and co-founding initiatives such as Heterodox Academy and Ethical Systems. Awards include membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019) and recognition as one of Prospect Magazine’s Top 50 Thinkers (2019). Haidt’s recent work emphasizes combating smartphone overuse in childhood and addressing social media’s role in declining mental health and democratic dysfunction.

His research spans ethics in organizations, political psychology, and interventions to depolarize societies. Collaborative projects include the Constructive Dialogue Institute and Moral Foundations Theory initiatives.