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Psychology Speakers

 

If you think the conscious and unconscious mind is well-mapped, then think again. Our psychology speakers explore the great mysteries of the human mind—our intelligence, our emotions, our personality and desires—and help us redefine how we think, feel, and know.

 

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Psychology
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Jay Van Bavel

Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU

One of our amazing qualities as human beings is our ability to work together—yet that doesn’t mean it always comes easily to us. In fact, many organizations today prioritize competition over cooperation in an effort to increase their bottom line. Jay Van Bavel is an NYU Professor who studies the psychology and neuroscience behind group identity, team performance, and cooperation. His talks not only reveal the science behind cooperation, but how to put it into practice.
Heather Berlin

Cognitive Neuroscientist | Host of Startalk All-Stars with Neil DeGrasse Tyson

A cognitive neuroscientist and host of StarTalk All-Stars with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Dr. Heather Berlin shows that by understanding the inner workings of our brains—what they’re good (and bad) at—we can discover solutions to some of our most common professional, creative, and social challenges, making us more productive, innovative, and in-control.  
Scott Barry Kaufman

Professor of Psychology at Columbia University | Author of Wired to Create

Scott Barry Kaufman is a groundbreaking psychologist expanding our definitions of creativity, self-actualization, wellness, and intelligence. A Professor of Psychology at Columbia University’s Barnard College and the author of Wired to Create and Ungifted, Kaufman helps all kinds of minds lead creative, fulfilling, meaningful lives. 
Lera Boroditsky

Cognitive Scientist | Expert in the Fields of Language and Cognition

“Do the languages that we speak shape the way that we think?” Lera Boroditsky’s TED Talk—on how people view the world differently, based on their linguistic backgrounds—has been viewed an astonishing 37 million times. Boroditsky is a celebrated cognitive scientist and one of the “25 Visionaries Changing the World” (Utne). 
Jamil Zaki

Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab

Most people think empathy is a trait—you have it or you don’t. But it’s a skill that anyone can get better at, says Jamil Zaki, a Stanford psychologist and one of America’s pre-eminent speakers on empathy. Drawing from his new acclaimed book The War for Kindness, Zaki offers an exciting new take on empathy—and how to enhance it.
 
Patrick Sharkey

NYU Professor | Sociologist | Author of Uneasy Peace

Over the past 25 years, American cities have transformed. Violence has become less common in major urban centers, and citizens feel more connected to their communities than ever before. But crime still occurs, and the dated systems meant to apprehend it have been called into question. 
 
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

Author of Everybody Lies | New York Times Op-Ed Writer | Former Google Data Scientist

In Everybody Lies—a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller—Seth Stephens-Davidowitz explores how Google searches open an unprecedented window into human behavior, choice, and decision-making. In talks, this former Google data scientist draws on his research to reveal what we really think.

 

Maria Konnikova

Contributing Writer for The New Yorker | New York Times Bestselling Author

A New Yorker science writer who rocketed to poker stardom, Maria Konnikova is a brilliant decoder of why we make decisions—and how we can make better ones. Author of the NYT-bestselling books The Confidence Game and Mastermind, Konnikova’s talks offer a fascinating lesson in how our performance at work can be improved by a deeper understanding of logical choices.  
 
Angela Duckworth

Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

In her landmark research, psychologist Angela Duckworth reveals the importance of character to success in life. Her pioneering work on grit and self-control—showcased in her instant New York Times bestseller and viral TED Talk—is in high demand among educators, athletes, and business leaders alike—anyone interested in learning what makes a top performer and what any of us can do to cultivate character in ourselves and those around us.
Eric Klinenberg

Author of Palaces for the People and Going Solo

Eric Klinenberg is a social scientist who sheds light on massive demographic, social, and environmental transformations. In Heat Wave, he takes a look at the future of cities in the age of climate change. In Going Solo, he charts the societal impact of people who live alone. 
 
Steven Pinker

Author of Enlightenment Now and The Better Angels of Our Nature

Steven Pinker asks the big questions about human progress—and sets out, in public, to answer them. In optimistic keynotes, full of sharp wit, common sense, and dazzling argumentation, science speaker Pinker makes the case for reason, science, and humanism. These Enlightenment ideals, in the face of tribalism, authoritarianism, and other modern dangers to democracy, are worth celebrating—and protecting. 
Susan Pinker

Psychologist and Author of The Village Effect and The Sexual Paradox

Psychologist and award-winning author Susan Pinker is a seasoned observer of modern communication and social contact. Whether writing on gender differences, as in The Sexual Paradox, or on why face-to-face contact should be a priority, as in The Village Effect, Pinker’s evidence-based insights help us improve the ways we work, play, and relate to each other.
Daniel Lerner

Positive Psychologist | Instructor of NYU’S “The Science of Happiness”

Can success and happiness coexist? According to positive psychologist Daniel Lerner, we can all accomplish our career goals and live well. Lerner’s talks teach us to achieve greatness through rediscovering our core strengths and finding meaning in our work.
 
Chia-Jung Tsay

Expert in Decision-Making and the Psychology of Negotiations | Associate Professor in the UCL School of Management

Are we ever really aware of why we choose the things we do? For example, do certain visual cues sway us? Do we prefer natural talents to hard work when it comes to job applicants? Psychologist Chia-Jung Tsay studies judgment biases: the non-conscious beliefs influencing our decisions.
Eyal Press

Author of Beautiful Souls: The Courage and Conscience of Ordinary People

A thoughtful young writer on issues of morality and politics, Eyal Press is the author of Beautiful Souls, a revelatory study of moral courage. On stage, he looks at the surprising factors that cause ordinary people to behave ethically—to stick to their conscience, to defy the sway of authority and convention—even when thrust into compromising situations.   
Dr. Alex Russell

Author of Drop the Worry Ball

Dr. Alex Russell is a clinical psychologist who helps children develop resilience and their own personal relationship with school and achievement. At the heart of his message—and his book, Drop the Worry Ball—is that children learn by experiencing non-catastrophic, painful failure, and it is through the process of these failures that they mature into resilient, resourceful and emotionally balanced individuals.