Jon Haidt
Jon Haidt is one of the world's leading social psychologists and serves as the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He is a prominent voice in the study of moral psychology, examining the intuitive foundations of morality and how these values vary across cultural and political divisions. Since 2018, Haidt’s work has transitioned from the study of political polarization to the systemic effects of digital technology on human development. Haidt is a prolific author of several era-defining works, including the New York Times #1 bestsellers The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Mind. In 2024, he released The Anxious Generation, which became a foundational text for the international movement to ban smartphones in schools and raise the age of "internet adulthood" to 16. His research has been cited over 135,000 times, and in 2026, he remains at the forefront of public discourse regarding the "destruction of human attention" caused by short-form video and algorithmic addiction.
Jon Haidt Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership
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Professor, Department of Psychology
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Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching
Academic History
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Ph.D., Psychology
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B.A., Philosophy
RESEARCH & ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS
Jon Haidt is a renowned social psychologist whose research examines the intuitive foundations of morality and the cross-cultural variations between progressive, conservative, and libertarian values.
His work explores the emotional roots and developmental courses of moral judgment, focusing on why individuals are so deeply divided by politics and religion.
Since 2018, Haidt has focused his inquiry on the "Great Rewiring of Childhood," investigating how the global shift from play-based to phone-based environments has contributed to a decline in teen mental health and a rise in political dysfunction.
To apply these insights to institutional challenges, he co-founded several high-impact organizations, including Heterodox Academy, which promotes viewpoint diversity in higher education, and Ethical Systems, which applies behavioral science to improve corporate culture.
RECENT RECOGNITIONS
2024 Center for Sustainable Media's Social Media Heroes
2019 Carnegie Mellon University's Carl Sagan Award
2019 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Inductee
2019 Prospect Magazine's World's Top 50 Thinkers
2014 Ethisphere Business' 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics
2013 Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute's Top 100 Global Thought Leaders
2012 Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers
MEDIA PRESENCE & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
A compelling public speaker and a frequent contributor to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Haidt has delivered four influential TED talks on healing fractured societies and the roots of polarization.
He is a prolific author of era-defining works, including the 2006 title The Happiness Hypothesis and the New York Times bestsellers The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Mind.
His 2024 release, The Anxious Generation, has become a foundational text for the 2026 international movement to implement phone-free schools and raise the age of internet adulthood.
Through his books and extensive media presence, Haidt remains a leading voice in global discourse regarding mental health, digital technology, and the preservation of human attention.