De Dreu, Prof. Carsten

Carsten de Dreu is Professor of Foundations of Cooperation and Social Organization. He researches the evolution of cooperation and social organization in groups of people and in other animal species that live in a group. In his research, De Dreu focuses, among other things, on the nature of conflict, how group formation works in times of conflict, and on cooperation and creativity within and between groups. De Dreu also conducts important research at the intersection of various disciplines. For example, he published a significant study that revealed that from an instinct to protect the own group, the cuddle hormone oxytocin can also feed aggression against other groups.
With his research, De Dreu aims to develop knowledge about societal issues. ‘It could lead to adjustments in social or economic policies, for example to prevent violent conflicts.’ In 2018, De Dreu received the Spinoza Prize, the highest award in Dutch academia, for the interdisciplinary approach of his research into conflicts and cooperation between and within groups.
Previously in the news
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Over polarisatie [On polarization] (Dutch only) (NPO Radio 1)
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Creativiteit [Creativity] (Dutch only) (podcast series De Podcast Psycholoog)
Contact and more information
Publications
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Last modified: | 07 April 2025 08.48 a.m. |
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