The Lasswell Award is given for “distinguished scientific contribution in the field of political psychology.” It is named for Harold Lasswell, one of the first to apply psychology to the analysis of politics. He was, thereby, also one of the first to encounter the problems of interdisciplinary work: because of resistance to his ideas, from 1937 to 1950 not a single article of his was published in a political science journal. However, he continued to publish (in psychological and psychiatric journals, and books), and so ultimately he won recognition, being elected President of APSA in 1955. He taught at Chicago, Yale, CUNY, Temple, and finally Columbia.
How to Nominate:
All nominations must include the following: A short paragraph explaining why she/he deserves the award and a CV of the nominee. To complete a nomination, simply send these materials to the Committee Chair by the deadline.
The award recipient will be strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and Awards Reception and may be asked to give a talk at the annual meeting the year after they receive the award, in recognition of their work in the field.
2024 Award Committee:
Chair: Kristen Monroe, University of California – Irvine
Committee: Kate Reynolds (Australian National University), James Liu (Massey University), and Lilliana Hall Mason (Johns Hopkins University)
THE NOMINATION PROCESS FOR 2024 is CLOSED. The deadline for nominations was extended to 15 February 2024.
Winners will be notified by early April 2024.
Harold Lasswell Award for Outstanding Scientific Accomplishment in Political Psychology
Kristen Monroe, University of California-Irvine
Kristen Monroe is a Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Ethics at UC Irvine, where she has made her esteemed mark over a remarkable career spanning 38 years. Additionally, she holds a prominent leadership role as the head of the UCI Ethics Center.
Having imparted her knowledge and expertise at prestigious institutions like the University of British Columbia, New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, and Princeton University, Kristen Monroe's commitment to education and research is profound.
In addition to her exceptional scholarly pursuits, Kristen Monroe has been actively engaged in numerous Scientific Societies, serving as the President of ISPP from 2007 to 2008, and holding the position of Vice President for both the American Political Science Association and the Midwest Political Science Association, further solidifying her influential presence in the academic community.
Kristen's influential work on altruism and moral decision-making is encapsulated in an impressive trilogy of award-winning books, complemented by 17 other books authored or co-edited, and a remarkable collection of nearly 100 journal articles and chapters.
Her contributions to the field have garnered wide recognition, evidenced by two Pulitzer nominations, a National Book Award nomination, several Best Book awards and honorable mentions from the American Political Science Association, as well as prestigious lifetime achievement awards from the International Society of Political Psychology. Kristen Monroe's exceptional career has also been honored with UCI's Distinguished Research Award and the 2010 Paul Silverman Award for Outstanding Work in Ethics.
The Harold Lasswell Award for Outstanding Scientific Accomplishment in Political Psychology is a fitting recognition of Kristen Monroe's invaluable contributions to the field. Her dedication to ethical scholarship and the pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire and leave a lasting impact on the political psychology community.
Past Winners
- 2023 Kristen Monroe
- 2022 Gian Vittorio Caprara
- 2021 James Gibson
- 2020 Fathali Moghaddam
- 2019 George Marcus
- 2018 Stephen Reicher
- 2017 Jack Citrin
- 2016 Linda Skitka
- 2015 Virginia Sapiro
- 2014 M. Kent Jennings
- 2013 Bert Klandermans
- 2012 Ervin Staub
- 2011 Daniel Bar-Tal
- 2010 Tom Pettigrew
- 2009 Steven R. Brown
- 2008 Philip Tetlock
- 2007 David Winter
- 2006 Jim Sidanius
- 2005 Milton Lodge
- 2004 Robert Jervis
- 2003 Marilynn Brewer
- 2002 John L. Sullivan
- 2001 Peter Suedfeld
- 2000 Fred I. Greenstein
- 1999 William McGuire
- 1998 Paul Sniderman
- 1997 Betty Glad
- 1996 Robert P. Abelson
- 1995 David O. Sears
- 1994 Lucian Pye
- 1993 M. Brewster Smith
- 1992 Dean G. Pruitt
- 1991 Robert E. Lane
- 1990 Philip E. Converse
- 1989 Robert C. Tucker
- 1988 Milton Rokeach
- 1987 Jerome D. Frank
- 1986 Anatol Rapaport
- 1985 Alexander George
- 1984 James MacGregor Burns
- 1983 Myres McDougal
- 1982 Leonard Doob
- 1981 Erik Erikson
- 1980 Angus Campbell
- 1979 Nathan Leites
