Walter Matthys

Walter Matthys is a Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, specializing in Clinical Child and Family Studies. His work focuses on aggression in children, disruptive behavior disorders, and parenting interventions. He leads research on cognitive-behavioral therapy adaptations for conduct problems, emphasizing moral reasoning, empathy, and neurobiological factors. Matthys is involved in global initiatives like the ICD-11 Task Group for Disruptive Behavior Disorders and serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

His research integrates clinical practice with developmental psychology, addressing externalizing behaviors in children with intellectual disabilities and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Key contributions include long-term evaluations of parenting programs (e.g., The Incredible Years) and cost-effectiveness analyses. He collaborates internationally on topics like gene-environment interactions in delinquency and interventions for incarcerated mothers.

Matthys has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited books on disruptive behavior disorders. His work bridges neurocognitive deficits, social learning processes, and therapeutic strategies, emphasizing practical applications in youth mental health and criminal justice contexts.