I graduated from the University of Utrecht where I obtained degrees in Psychology and Philosophy in 1977. From there I moved to London University where I received my PhD in 1981. After that I joined the Free University of Amsterdam, followed by a return to the UK where I joined the Psychology Department of Exeter University. In the early 1980′s I returned to the Free University as an associate professor and ran the Social Science Section of the Institute of Environmental Studies. In 1986 I moved to the University of Amsterdam as Professor of Experimental Social Psychology. Initially I was director of the Social Psychology Program; later I served as dean of the Psychology Department. From 1999 I served six years as director of the Psychology Research Institute of the University of Amsterdam. In 2006 I returned to the Social Psychology Department.

My research focuses on attitudes and decision-making. My current work on attitudes focuses on the role of affect in attitude formation and change, ambivalence, and on how people deal with counter-attitudinal information. My research on decision-making deals with the role of (anticipated) affect in decision-making, perceived risk and the acceptability of risk, and the consequences of uncertainty and (lack of) control on judgment and decision-making. Recent work also addresses intuitive versus deliberate decision-making.

In addition to empirical work on basic processes in attitudes and decision-making my research also addresses more applied issues such as the perceived risks of technological developments, dietary behavior, compliance, and risk and insurance.

I served as a consultant for a variety of national science foundations and was a panelist on committees on issues such as global change, gambling behavior, sustainable development, terrorism, driving behavior, food safety, and high security prisons.