Kruglanski Receives Prestigious Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology

The Association for Psychological Science (APS) has honored Distinguished University Professor Arie Kruglanski with its William James Fellow Award. This award recognizes renowned APS members for a lifetime of significant intellectual contributions to the basic science of psychology.

Kruglanski, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology, is internationally lauded for many contributions to the field, including his meaningful explanations of the psychology behind radical violence, and ways to stop it. The APS also recognized Kruglanski for his work in the areas of epistemics, goal systems, and quest for significance theories, which—in the institution’s words—“present among the most general and elegant theoretical frameworks in social psychology.”

“I am deeply honored by this award of distinguished contributions to the basic science of psychology,” Kruglanski said. “Historical recipients of the award were B. F. Skinner, Noam  Chomsky, Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, so I am very much humbled to be in this incredible company!”

Kruglanski directs UMD’s Motivated Cognition Laboratory, which studies human motivation as it affects thinking, feeling, and behavior. His lab methods include experiments, neuroscience work, computer modeling, surveys and content analysis. The lab has collaborative relations with universities around the globe including Italy, the Netherlands, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Poland, and Denmark.

A survivor of the Holocaust, Kruglanski’s dedication to understanding extremism and promoting understanding, peace and human dignity have enlightened and inspired academics, students, policymakers and laypeople all over the world.

“Through his research, writing, teaching and public engagement, Professor Kruglanski seemingly does the impossible—he helps us to better understand the most complex human actions and motivations, from acts of terrorism to how we cope with uncertainty. His work is rooted in understanding humanity, and thus his work speaks to all of us, inside and outside the field of psychology,” said BSOS Dean Susan Rivera.

Published on Fri, Sep 6, 2024 - 1:58PM