Douwe Draaisma

Douwe Draaisma is Professor of History of Psychology at the University of Groningen, where he holds the Heymans Chair in the Department of Theory & History of Psychology within the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. He graduated in psychology and philosophy from Groningen and earned his PhD from Utrecht University in 1993 with a dissertation on memory metaphors.

His research examines:

• The history of experimental psychology and precision measurement
• Metaphorical frameworks for understanding memory
• Autobiographical memory distortions across the lifespan
• Historical analysis of psychological concepts in neurology and time perception

Recent publications (2016–2025) explore consciousness, memory reliability, perception illusions, and historical psychopathology cases, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with neuroscience, philosophy, and forensic psychology.

Awards include:

• Heymans Award (1990) from the Dutch Psychological Association
• Scientific and literary prizes for his bestselling work on autobiographical memory

He chairs the Van der Leeuw Lecture committee, fostering dialogue between science and humanities. No information is available regarding student advising, grants, or lab affiliations.