Paul Rozin

Paul Rozin is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Psychology, part of the School of Arts and Sciences. His work focuses on cultural psychology, particularly food attitudes across cultures, positive psychology, and the perception of 'natural' concepts. He holds a BA from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Biology and Psychology from Harvard University. Rozin's research explores how cultural contexts shape food preferences, the role of environmental factors in eating behaviors (e.g., portion sizes), and the psychological underpinnings of moralized opposition to technologies like genetically modified foods. He has advised graduate students including Katrina Fincher and Xuan Go, co-sponsored with Martin Seligman.

Key research themes include cross-cultural comparisons of eating habits (France/USA/India/Japan), the psychology of food 'naturalness,' and the distinction between comfort and joy in emotional experiences. He has contributed to understanding magical contagion beliefs and their societal impacts, including during the pandemic. His teaching includes Introduction to Psychology and specialized courses in cultural psychology.

Rozin's work frequently bridges psychology with anthropology, addressing topics like food taboos, entomophagy, and the moral dimensions of dietary choices. His publications analyze both traditional and modern eating patterns, emphasizing how cultural evolution shapes human behavior and perceptions of health, ethics, and aesthetics.