Social Psychology and Human Nature

Roy F. Baumeister received his PhD in experimental social psychology in 1978 from Princeton. He has had a productive career with over 700 scientific publications, including 43 books. Scientific influence is measured by counting how often a researcher’s work is cited in other scientific publications, and by that method, Baumeister is one of the most influential psychologists alive today. A 2022 comparison of 8.5 million scientists in the world, across all fields, ranked him #128, thus in the top 1% of the top 1% of all scientists. His book WILLPOWER: REDISCOVERING THE GREATEST HUMAN STRENGTH, co-authored with science journalist John Tierney, was a New York Times and Amazon bestseller. Much of his career has been spent tackling grand philosophical problems with social science data, such as in his books EVIL: INSIDE HUMAN VIOLENCE AND CRUELTY, MEANINGS OF LIFE, THE CULTURAL ANIMAL and THE SCIENCE OF FREE WILL. Over the years, he has held affiliations with diverse universities and institutes, including several in the U.S. (i.e., Harvard; Stanford; Florida State University; Case Western Reserve University; University of Virginia; University of Texas at Austin; University of California, Berkley; University of California, Santa Barbara) and several in other countries (i.e., University of Queensland, Australia; University of Bamberg, Germany; Jacobs University Bremen, Germany; Max-Planck-Institute, Germany; Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia). In 2023, he received the Distinguished Scientist award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology, and in 2014, he received the William James Fellow award from the Association for Psychological Science. He now lives in the mountains where he likes to take hikes with his small dog and ski in the winter. He also composes music on the piano. Roy F. Baumeister received his PhD in experimental social psychology in 1978 from Princeton. He has had a productive career with over 700 scientific publications, including 43 books. Scientific influence is measured by counting how often a researcher’s work is cited in other scientific publications, and by that method, Baumeister is one of the most influential psychologists alive today. A 2022 comparison of 8.5 million scientists in the world, across all fields, ranked him #128, thus in the top 1% of the top 1% of all scientists. His book WILLPOWER: REDISCOVERING THE GREATEST HUMAN STRENGTH, co-authored with science journalist John Tierney, was a New York Times and Amazon bestseller. Much of his career has been spent tackling grand philosophical problems with social science data, such as in his books EVIL: INSIDE HUMAN VIOLENCE AND CRUELTY, MEANINGS OF LIFE, THE CULTURAL ANIMAL and THE SCIENCE OF FREE WILL. Over the years, he has held affiliations with diverse universities and institutes, including several in the U.S. (i.e., Harvard; Stanford; Florida State University; Case Western Reserve University; University of Virginia; University of Texas at Austin; University of California, Berkley; University of California, Santa Barbara) and several in other countries (i.e., University of Queensland, Australia; University of Bamberg, Germany; Jacobs University Bremen, Germany; Max-Planck-Institute, Germany; Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia). In 2023, he received the Distinguished Scientist award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology, and in 2014, he received the William James Fellow award from the Association for Psychological Science. He now lives in the mountains where he likes to take hikes with his small dog and ski in the winter. He also composes music on the piano. Brad J. Bushman received his Ph.D. in psychology in 1989 from the University of Missouri. He is a professor of communication at The Ohio State University. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Michigan and Iowa State University. He has been a visiting professor at other universities in the U.S. (i.e., University of Southern California, University of Colorado, Case Western Reserve University) and in other countries (Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; University of Grenoble Alpes, France; Warsaw School of Social Psychology, Poland; University of Bamberg, Germany). For over 30 years he has studied causes, consequences and cures to problems of human aggression and violence. Known for his research on violent media, he has also examined other topics related to aggression (e.g., “hangry” = hungry + angry, global warming, alcohol, social rejection, frustration, narcissism, venting anger). He was a member of President Obama’s gun violence committee, has co-chaired two youth violence reports (one for the National Science Foundation and one for the International Society for Research on Aggression) and has testified before Congress about youth violence. He is Editor of the American Psychological Association (APA) journal, Psychology of Violence. His research has challenged several myths (e.g., guns make people safer, venting anger is healthy, aggressive people have low self-esteem) and has been called the “myth buster.” His research has been funded by grants, published in top scientific and medical journals, widely cited and featured in the mass media. He has received awards for teaching and research, and lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Tam Stafford. In his spare time, he likes to travel, cook (and eat!) vegetarian food and ride his bike.

1. The Mission and the Method.
2. Culture and Nature.
3. The Self.
4. Choices and Actions: The Self in Action.
5. Social Cognition.
6. Emotion and Affect.
7. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Consistency.
8. Social Influence and Persuasion.
9. Prosocial Behavior: Doing What's Best for Others.
10. Aggression and Antisocial Behavior.
11. Interpersonal Attraction and Exclusion.
12. Close Relationships: Passion, Intimacy, and Sexuality.
13. Prejudice and Intergroup Relations.
14. Groups.