Jonathan David Haidt is an American social psychologist and Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. His primary areas of study focus on the psychology of morality and moral emotions.

Haidt's major scientific contributions are centered in the field of moral foundations theory. This theory aims to explain the evolutionary origins of human moral reasoning based on innate, gut feelings rather than logical reasoning. It further explores how different moral reasonings relate to political ideologies, with varying political orientations prioritizing diverse sets of morals. The research has laid the groundwork for his future books on these topics.

He is the author of three books for general audiences: The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom (2006), which explores the relationship between ancient philosophies and modern science; The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion (2012), which analyzes how morality is more influenced by emotion and intuition than reasoning, and why political groups have differing perceptions of right and wrong; and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure (2018), co-authored with Greg Lukianoff, which investigates the rising political polarization and cultural shifts on college campuses and their impact on mental health.

Haidt has been recognized as one of the "top global thinkers" by Foreign Policy magazine and one of the "top world thinkers" by Prospect magazine. He is among the most cited researchers in political and moral psychology.

His recent work includes the book The Anxious Generation, focusing on the impact of smartphones and overprotective parenting on childhood development and the increase in mental health issues.