Dr. Icek Ajzen is a distinguished scholar and Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he has spent the majority of his academic career since joining the faculty in 1971. Born in 1942 in Chełm, Poland, he earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1969 and rapidly established himself as a leading figure in his field. Throughout his tenure at UMass Amherst, he demonstrated exceptional leadership by heading the Division of Personality and Social Psychology on three separate occasions during the periods 1980-1985, 1997-1999, and 2001-2012. His professional journey has also included significant visiting positions at Tel Aviv University, reflecting his international scholarly influence and collaborative spirit.
Dr. Ajzen is best known for his groundbreaking work with Martin Fishbein on the Theory of Planned Behavior, which has become one of the most influential frameworks in social psychology for understanding and predicting human behavior. His research has generated extraordinary scholarly impact, with his publications accumulating over 530,000 citations, making him the researcher with the highest impact publications in the social psychology field according to reputable metrics. His seminal books, including Attitudes, Personality, and Behavior (2005), Prediction and Change of Health Behavior (2007), and Predicting and Changing Behavior: The Reasoned Action Approach (2010), have shaped theoretical and applied research across multiple disciplines. The practical applications of his work extend far beyond academia, significantly influencing fields such as advertising, health psychology, and environmental psychology through evidence-based approaches to behavior change.
In recognition of his transformative contributions to social science, Dr. Ajzen was awarded the prestigious BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Social Sciences category for 2024, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential psychologists of his generation. He previously received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society of Experimental Social Psychology in 2013, further validating the profound impact of his theoretical frameworks. Despite his emeritus status, his work continues to guide contemporary research and practical applications worldwide, with the Reasoned Action Approach serving as a cornerstone methodology for understanding attitude-behavior relationships. His enduring scholarly influence ensures that his theoretical contributions will remain foundational to psychological science and its applications for generations to come.
