Barry Schwartz (born August 15, 1946) is an American psychologist. Schwartz is the Dorwin Cartwright Emeritus Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College and since 2016 has been visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His work focuses on the intersection of psychology and economics. He frequently publishes editorials in The New York Times, applying his research in psychology to current events.
Schwartz's research addresses morality, decision-making and the inter-relationships between behavioral science and society. His books criticize certain philosophical roots of Western societies and expose underlying myths common in both lay and academic psychological theories. In particular, he is a critic of the "rational economic man" model in both psychology and economics. Schwartz studied under David Richmond Williams for his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a predoctoral fellow with the National Science Foundation.Schwartz, B, and D R Williams. “The role of the response-reinforcer contingency in negative automaintenance.” Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior vol. 17(3) (1972): 351-7. doi:10.1901/jeab.1972.17-351 APA National Library of Medicine website Retrieved 24 October 2021.
Publications
Articles A select number of his works are available online.
Books Why We Work, Simon & Schuster/TED, 2015. () The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, Ecco, 2004. (, ) Psychology of Learning and Behavior, with Edward Wasserman and Steven Robbins The Costs of Living: How Market Freedom Erodes the Best Things in Life, Xlibris Corporation, 2001. () Learning and Memory, with Daniel Reisberg The Battle for Human Nature: Science, Morality and Modern Life Behaviorism, Science, and Human Nature, with Hugh Lacey, W. W. Norton & Company, 1983. () Practical Wisdom, with Kenneth Sharpe, Riverhead, 2010, ()
References
External links
Speech at Pop!tech 2004 Barry Schwartz: Curriculum Vitae
"The paradox of choice" (TEDGlobal 2005) "Our loss of wisdom" (TED2009) "Using our practical wisdom" (TEDSalon NY2011 2010)
Interview: Barry Schwartz discusses the role of justice in college admissions