Dacher Keltner is a distinguished social psychologist and leading authority on emotion, social interaction, and power dynamics. He serves as a full professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he directs the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab and acts as Faculty Director of the Greater Good Science Center. Dr. Keltner received his PhD from Stanford University in 1989 and completed three years of post-doctoral work with renowned emotion researcher Paul Ekman at the University of California, San Francisco. After beginning his academic career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he returned to UC Berkeley in 1996, attaining full professorship in 2002, where he has since established himself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary psychology.
Dr. Keltner's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of human emotion and social behavior through his development of the Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power and seminal work on the psychology of awe. His influential 2003 paper with Jonathan Haidt on awe remains one of the most cited works in the field, establishing the emotional, cognitive, and social consequences of this profound human experience. He has documented the universality of over twenty distinct facial expressions, revealing how humans communicate complex emotions like love, compassion, and gratitude through touch and vocal intonation. With over 190 scientific publications and more than 108,000 citations, his research has bridged academic psychology with mainstream culture through best-selling books including Born to Be Good The Science of a Meaningful Life and The Power Paradox How We Gain and Lose Influence as well as his role as scientific advisor for Pixars Academy Award-winning film Inside Out.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Keltner has been instrumental in translating psychological science into practical applications that enhance human well-being through his leadership of the Greater Good Science Center. He co-founded the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics in 2020 and serves as Chief Scientific Advisor at Hume AI, demonstrating his commitment to innovative interdisciplinary approaches. As host of the award-winning podcast The Science of Happiness and co-instructor of its popular online course, he has brought evidence-based practices for well-being to millions worldwide. Dr. Keltner has mentored over twenty PhD students and postdoctoral fellows who have become professors themselves, while receiving numerous teaching awards from UC Berkeley for his exceptional mentorship and instruction. His ongoing research continues to explore the transformative potential of awe and positive emotions, positioning him at the forefront of efforts to apply psychological science to address contemporary social challenges and enhance human flourishing.
