Christel Klootwijk

Christel Klootwijk is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Social Psychology group, IBBA, and LEARN! research institute. Her work bridges educational neuroscience, developmental psychology, and social psychology.

• Research Focus: Prosocial behavior in toddlers, academic motivation in adolescents, and the buffering effects of parental support during crises like the pandemic.
• Recent Trends: Examines moral reasoning in early childhood, social preference formation, and neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying adolescent motivation.

Scientific Recognition:

• Flash Talk Award (2022)
• Research Master Thesis Award (2021)

Klootwijk contributes to the Social Educational Neuroscience Amsterdam project (2020–2026) and organized the iBBA Retreat in 2022. Her work explores how considerate behavior and social support shape developmental trajectories.