Wilhelm Wundt Medal 2026 awarded to Ralph Hertwig 

Highest DGPs honor for research on human decision-making 

The German Psychological Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie, DGPs) has awarded the Wilhelm Wundt Medal 2026 to Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. With its highest scientific distinction, the DGPs recognizes Hertwig’s outstanding achievements in basic psychological research and his lasting contribution to the advancement of the discipline. 

Hertwig is internationally recognized as one of the leading researchers in decision psychology. His work on bounded and ecological rationality, risk perception, and experience-based decision-making has significantly shaped the field. Hertwig’s research explores how people make decisions under uncertainty and how they can be better supported in doing so. His work provides insights relevant to areas including healthcare, risk management, the design of effective consumer and health policies, and the responsible use of digital technologies. With his concept of “boosting,” Hertwig has developed an evidence-based approach that targets people’s competences to help them make good, informed decisions. As a member of scientific academies, including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Hertwig also advises on pressing societal issues such as the obesity crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents, and the relationship between digital media and democracy. 

In its statement, the DGPs jury and executive board highlight Hertwig’s excellent theory-driven basic research, which consistently addresses socially relevant questions and develops scientifically grounded solutions. His interdisciplinary collaborations across computer science, law, and economics have substantially broadened both the reach and practical applicability of his research. 

DGPs President Eva-Lotta Brakemeier emphasizes: “Professor Ralph Hertwig embodies a psychology that combines scientific excellence with social responsibility. His research demonstrates how rigorous basic psychological research can help people make better decisions—in politics, business, law, and everyday life. This exceptional combination of theoretical depth, interdisciplinary openness, and societal impact makes him a highly deserving recipient of the Wilhelm Wundt Medal.” 

The DGPs is an association of psychologists active in research and teaching. The Wilhelm Wundt Medal, which also confers honorary membership of the DGPs, will be awarded on September 7, 2026, during the 54th DGPs Congress in Luxembourg. 

For more information about the award, visit the DGP website: DGPs - Wilhelm-Wundt-Medaille (in German)