Christin Scholz

Dr. Christin Scholz is a Researcher at the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, affiliated with the Persuasive Communication department. She co-leads the ACHC Communication, Brain, and Society (CoBraS) Lab and contributes to the Research Priority Area on Polarisation. Her work bridges social psychology, neuroscience, and communication studies, focusing on cognitive biases, polarization dynamics, and the neural mechanisms underlying information sharing.

Education: Holds a PhD in Persuasive Communication. Her research integrates neuroimaging (fMRI), ecological momentary assessment, and geolocation tracking to study health behaviors and societal polarization.

Research Interests: Explores how cognitive biases like confirmation bias and dissonance drive polarization. Her studies investigate peer influence on drinking behavior, the role of mental well-being in health messaging, and the application of behavioral science to climate action. She employs interdisciplinary methods, including neuroimaging and global data collaboration across 63 countries.

Key Contributions: Pioneered the GeoSmoking Study and the International Climate Psychology Collaboration. Her work highlights the societal impact of fragmented media ecosystems and advocates for epistemic vigilance in information processing.

Labs & Teams: ACHC CoBraS Lab (focusing on communication and neuroscience) and the Amsterdam Center for Health Communication. Collaborates with political scientists, neuroscientists, and behavioral economists to address complex societal challenges.