Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen

Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen (b. 1946) is a renowned Finnish psychologist, a pioneer in the field of experimental personality research, and a celebrated non-fiction author. She is Professor Emerita of Psychology and is best known for her work in the field of temperament study.

Keltikangas-Järvinen’s research into the innate temperament differences is based on multi-disciplinary and comprehensive long-term study spanning decades. She has authored numerous non-fiction books that discuss self-esteem and the effects of temperament on individuality, academic performance, working and personal life, etc.

The Association of University Professors chose Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen as The Professor of the Year in 2008. The Finnish Non-Fiction Authors Association awarded her the Non-Fiction Author Award in 2001. In 2011 she was awarded the Lauri Jäntti Foundation Award for her book Sociability and Social Skills.

Keltikangas-Järvinen has written several books on her main research topics and her papers are regularly published in medical journals such as Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Journal of Psychosomatic Research and British Journal of Educational Psychology.

As a member of Academia Europeae, she has been judging  applications of funding of science in The European Research Council. 

Selection of works

The Best Schools in the World? (Maailman paras koulu? WSOY 2014 – with Sari Mullola)
Toddlers and Social Interaction (Pienen lapsen sosiaalisuus, WSOY 2012)
Sociability and Social Skills (Sosiaalisuus ja sosiaaliset taidot, WSOY 2010)
Temperament, Stress and Life Management (Temperamentti, stressi ja elämänhallinta, WSOY 2008)
Temperament and School Performance (Temperamentti ja koulumenestys, WSOY 2006)

Prizes

Grand Prize of The Finnish Cultural Foundation 2019
Warelius Prize of the the Association of Finnish Nonfiction Authors 2025

Memberships:

The European Research Council (ERC), expert of the panel of “Synergy Grant” 2018-2019

Academia Europaea, member 2013-

Finnish Academy of Science, member 2001- and Chairman of the section: Psychology and Pedagogy 2009-

American Psychosomatic Society, Member 1994-

The European Health Psychology Society, Member 1988-

Works
The Age of Selfishness. How Our Overtly Individualistic Culture Makes Us Unhappy Itsekkyyden aika What used to be considered narcissism is now considered the norm. Nowadays, life strongly revolves around t...
“Good Guys”: Temperament and the Workplace "Hyvät tyypit". Temperamentti ja työelämä Social. Active. Talkative. Intolerable. A pioneer in temperament research dispels ingrained notions of the ...
Sociability and Social Skills Sosiaalisuus ja sosiaaliset taidot Professor Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen delves in her book into sociability, social skills, and aggression. Soc...
The Best Schools in the World? Maailman paras koulu?  Girls who excel and boys who fall behind – is there nothing we can do? Tools for building schools where al...
Temperament, Stress and Life Management Temperamentti, stressi ja elämänhallinta Professor Keltikangas-Järvinen defines the meaning of our inborn temperaments in our adult lives: at work and...
Temperament and School Performance Temperamentti ja koulumenestys Why would a smart and motivated child perform poorly at school?  Why do shy girls do better at school than s...
Toddlers and Social Interaction Pienen lapsen sosiaalisuus Early childhood is one of the most important stages in our lives. The foundations for our future social skills...