Matthew Lieberman, professor of psychology at UCLA, was awarded the 2015 SESP Career Trajectory Award on behalf of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. The award recognizes the creative and influential contributions of researchers in the early-to-mid stages of their career. Lieberman is being honored for his innovative contributions in the biobehavioral sciences.
His research focuses on social cognitive neuroscience and utilizes neuroimaging (fMRI) to investigate how we make sense of others, ourselves and the relation between the two. He is primarily interested in the persuasion and the spread of ideas, empathy, emotion regulation and self-knowledge. His findings have been applied to the areas of education and business.
Lieberman has produced a plethora of articles in the division of social psychology, such as “Education and the social brain.” Most notably, in his book, "Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect," Lieberman argues that our need to connect with others is just as important, if not more, than our basic need for food and shelter.
For more information about professor Lieberman, visit the department of psychology faculty page.
