Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jonathan Haidt

Role / Field:

Influential social psychologist known for Moral Foundations Theory and ethics research.

Born:

1963-10-19

Century / Era:

1963s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jonathan David Haidt ( HYTE; born October 19, 1963) is an American social psychologist and author. He is a professor of business and society and the Thomas Cooley Chair in Ethical Leadership at the New York University Stern School of Business. Haidt's main areas of study are the psychology of morality and moral emotions. Haidt's main contributions to the field of psychology come from his theory of moral foundations, which attempts to explain the origins of human moral reasoning on the basis of innate "modules", resulting from biological and cultural evolution.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The theory was later further developed to explain varitation in moral reasoning as it relates to political ideology, positing that people arrive at different political orientations due to prioritizing different sets of morals. Haidt's current research applies moral psychology to business ethics. Haidt has written multiple popular psychology books, including The Happiness Hypothesis (2006) examining the relationship between ancient philosophies and modern science, The Righteous Mind (2012) on moral politics, and The Coddling of the American Mind (2018) on rising political polarization, mental health, and college culture. In 2024...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd el-Krim — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): Moroccan revolutionary leader who spearheaded the revolt against French and Spanish Protectorates.
• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Aldous Huxley — Contemporary (Died in 1963) (1963): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• Angus Deaton — Shared historical date (10-19 · Born) (1945): Influential economist specializing in poverty, inequality, and consumption analysis.
• Benjamin Banneker — Shared historical date (10-19 · Died) (1806): Self-taught polymath, surveyor, and advocate for racial equality in early America.
• Alessandra Ferri — Historical peer (Born in 1963) (1963): Esteemed Italian prima ballerina known for her technical prowess and dramatic roles.
• Aubrey de Grey — Historical peer (Born in 1963) (1963): Biogerontologist known for advocating that technology can conquer age-related death.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• 1963 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1963
• October 19 (10-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Jonathan Haidt