Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jonathan Haidt

How Jonathan Haidt built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist and author known for his work on the psychology of morality and moral emotions. Currently the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at NYU Stern School of Business, Haidt's research delves into the foundations of moral judgment, the role of intuition versus reason in moral decision-making, and the cultural and political divisions arising from differing moral frameworks. He is the author of several influential books exploring these themes, often challenging conventional wisdom and sparking debate within both academic and public spheres.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

July 1992: NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago

In July 1992, Jonathan Haidt began a NIMH postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago, studying cultural psychology under Richard Shweder.

1992: PhD from University of Pennsylvania

In 1992, Jonathan Haidt received a PhD in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation was titled "Moral judgment, affect, and culture, or, is it wrong to eat your dog?"

June 1994: End of NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago

In June 1994, Jonathan Haidt concluded his NIMH postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago.

July 1994: Postdoctoral Associate with the MacArthur Foundation

In July 1994, Jonathan Haidt became a postdoctoral associate with the MacArthur Foundation under psychologist Judith Rodin.

August 1995: Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia

In August 1995, Jonathan Haidt became an assistant professor at the University of Virginia (UVA).

August 1995: End of Postdoctoral Associate with the MacArthur Foundation

In August 1995, Jonathan Haidt concluded his time as a postdoctoral associate with the MacArthur Foundation.

1999: Active in Positive Psychology

In 1999, Jonathan Haidt became active in the new field of positive psychology, studying positive moral emotions.

August 2001: Associate Professor at the University of Virginia

In August 2001, Jonathan Haidt was named an associate professor at the University of Virginia (UVA).

2003: Publication of "Flourishing"

In 2003, Jonathan Haidt's work in positive psychology led to the publication of an edited volume, Flourishing.

2004: Application of Moral Psychology to Politics

In 2004, Jonathan Haidt began to apply moral psychology to the study of politics, researching the psychological foundations of ideology.

2004: Extension of Social Intuitionist Model

In 2004, Jonathan Haidt began to extend the social intuitionist model to identify the most important categories of moral intuition which led to the moral foundations theory, co-developed with Craig Joseph and Jesse Graham.

2006: Publication of "The Happiness Hypothesis"

In 2006, Jonathan Haidt published "The Happiness Hypothesis", a book examining the relationship between ancient philosophies and modern science.

2007: Founded CivilPolitics.org

In 2007, Jonathan Haidt founded CivilPolitics.org, a website for research on political civility.

2007: Visiting Professor at Princeton University

Jonathan Haidt spent the 2007-2008 academic year at Princeton University as the Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching.

2008: Visiting Professor at Princeton University

Jonathan Haidt spent the 2007-2008 academic year at Princeton University as the Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching.

August 2009: Full Professor at the University of Virginia

In August 2009, Jonathan Haidt became a full professor in the psychology department at the University of Virginia.

July 2010: Talk at the Edge Foundation

In July 2010, Jonathan Haidt delivered a talk at the Edge Foundation on new advances in moral psychology.

2011: Departure from the University of Virginia

In 2011, Jonathan Haidt left the University of Virginia.

2011: Moved to New York University

In 2011, Jonathan Haidt moved to New York University's Stern School of Business as the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership.

2011: TED Talk on Value Systems

In a 2011 Ted talk, Jonathan Haidt discussed the differences in value systems between liberals and conservatives, and potential biases in psychology against conservative viewpoints.

2012: Publication of "The Righteous Mind"

In 2012, Jonathan Haidt published "The Righteous Mind", a book exploring moral politics.

2013: Co-founded Ethical Systems

In 2013, Jonathan Haidt co-founded Ethical Systems, a non-profit organization making academic research on ethics more available to businesses.

2015: Co-founded Heterodox Academy

In 2015, Jonathan Haidt co-founded Heterodox Academy, a non-profit promoting viewpoint diversity and mutual understanding.

2015: Essay for The Atlantic

In 2015, Jonathan Haidt wrote an essay for The Atlantic which would later be expanded on in "The Coddling of the American Mind".

2018: Co-edited "All Minus One"

In 2018, Jonathan Haidt and Richard Reeves co-edited an illustrated edition of John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty", titled "All Minus One: John Stuart Mill's Ideas on Free Speech Illustrated".

2018: Publication of "The Coddling of the American Mind"

In 2018, Jonathan Haidt co-authored "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure" with Greg Lukianoff, exploring political polarization and changing college culture and its effects on mental health.

2024: Publication of "The Anxious Generation"

In 2024, Jonathan Haidt published "The Anxious Generation", arguing that smartphones and overprotective parenting have led to increased mental illness.