The EMET Prize is awarded to Prof. Mario Mikulincer for his extraordinary contribution in the study of personality and social psychology. His prolific work, his systematic and innovative scientific approach and his theoretical and practical contribution have put his research in the forefront of the field in Israel and around the world.
Professor Mario Mikulincer was born in 1957 in Santa Fe, Argentina. In 1976, Mikulincer came to Israel and began his studies in psychology at Bar-Ilan University, where he completed three academic degrees. In 1985 he earned his doctorate, with distinction.
After completing his PhD degree, Mikulincer launched his academic career in the Psychology Department at Bar-Ilan University, achieving promotion from Assistant Professor to Full Professor in less than seven years (1986-1992). This made him the youngest Professor of Psychology in any Israeli university.
Mikulincer has published more than 200 scientific articles in the top journals concerned with personality and social psychology, tapping issues related to learned helplessness, interpersonal and attachment processes, affect regulation, and coping with trauma and the horrors of death. In particular, more than 30 of his articles have been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP), the most competitive journal in these fields. He has supervised the research of more than 150 students in their advanced studies and is regularly invited to lecture at international conferences and to author sections of prominent books. Additionally, Mikulincer was chosen as a “fellow” in the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, a member of the editorial board for the five leading journals in the field, and in 2003, was chosen to be an associate editor for the JPSP.
From 1995-1999, Mikulincer headed the Psychology department at Bar-Ilan University. From 2001-2004, he served as chairman of the interdisciplinary studies unit, and is currently serving as Dean of Bar-Ilan University’s Regional Colleges. In 1996 he founded, along with the late Prof. Victor Florian, the Peleg-Bilig Center for the Study of Family Well-Being, and has served as the Center’s chairman since 2002. Additionally, he was among the founders of the Gonda Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University.
