Dr. John T. Jost stands as a preeminent figure in social and political psychology, renowned for his groundbreaking theoretical contributions and empirical investigations into human belief systems. He currently serves as Professor of Psychology, Politics, and Data Science at New York University, where he also holds affiliated appointments in Sociology and co-directs the Center for Social and Political Behavior while directing the Social Justice Lab. After earning his AB in Psychology and Human Development from Duke University in 1989, he completed his PhD in Social and Political Psychology at Yale University in 1995 under the mentorship of prominent scholars including Mahzarin R. Banaji. His distinguished academic career began at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business before he joined New York University in 2003, where he steadily advanced to his current position as a full professor and influential research leader.
Dr. Jost's most seminal contribution is the development of system justification theory, which he initially proposed in collaboration with Mahzarin Banaji in 1994, fundamentally reshaping how social scientists understand the psychological mechanisms that maintain social and political systems. His work has demonstrated how individuals, even those disadvantaged by existing hierarchies, often engage in cognitive processes that legitimize and defend the status quo, challenging conventional theories of social change and revolution. With over 250 publications including six influential books, particularly his 2020 Harvard University Press volume A Theory of System Justification which was a finalist for the PROSE Award, his research has garnered extensive attention across scientific journals and major media outlets worldwide. His more recent work exploring the psychological underpinnings of political ideology, culminating in his 2021 Oxford University Press book Left & Right: The Psychological Significance of a Political Distinction, has provided critical insights into contemporary political polarization and ideological conflict.
Beyond his theoretical contributions, Dr. Jost has significantly shaped the field through leadership roles including his presidency of the International Society of Political Psychology and his editorship of the Oxford University Press book series on Political Psychology. His scholarly impact is recognized through prestigious honors including Fellow status in both the Society of Experimental Social Psychology and the Association of Psychological Science, as well as honorary doctorates from the University of Buenos Aires and Eötvös Lorand University. Currently directing NYU's Social Justice Lab, he continues to advance research on intergroup relations, political psychology, and social media usage, with recent work addressing partisan animosity and support for democratic values. His enduring influence is evident in the widespread application of his theories across disciplines, establishing him as one of the most important social psychologists of his generation whose work continues to illuminate the complex relationship between individual cognition and societal structures.
