Research

 

The primary focus of Dr. Elliot's research is on the heirarchical model of approach and avoidance motivation. Professor Elliot examines the antecedents, consequences, and development of achievement motivation and social motivation. He conducts basic, applied, and cross-cultural research in educational and sport contexts. Professor Elliot's work focuses on the self, motivation, parenting, achievement, social connection, and the effects of color on behavior.

 

Recent Publications

 

• Elliot, A.J., Payen, V., Brisswalter, J., Cury, F., & Thayer, J. (2011). A subtle threat cue, heart rate variability, and cognitive performance. Psychophysiology, 48, 1340-1345.
• Elliot, A.J., Murayama, K., & Pekrun, R. (2011). A 3 x 2 achievement goal model. Journal of Educational Psychology, 103, 632-648.
• Elliot, A.J., Niesta. D., Greitemeyer, T., Lichtenfeld, S., Gramzow, R.H., Maier, M., & Liu, Huijun (2010). Red, Rank and Romance in Women Viewing Men. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 139, 399-417.
• Elliot, A.J., Maier, M.A., Binser, M.J., Friedman, R, & Pekrun, R. (2009). The Effect of Red on Avoidance Behavior in Achievement Contexts. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 365-375.
• Elliot, A.J. & Niesta, D. (2008). Romantic Red: Red Enhances Men's Attraction to Women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1150-1164.
• Elliot, A.J. & Fryer, J.W. (2008). The Goal construct. In J. Shah & W. Gardner (Eds.), Handbook of Motivation Science (pp. 235-250). New York: The Guilford Press.
• Elliot, A.J. (2008). Handbook of approach and avoidance motivation.  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Elliot, A.J., Maier, M.A., Moller, A.C., Friedman, R., & Meinhardt, J. (2007). Color and psychological functioning: The effect of red on performance in achievement contexts. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 136, 154-168.
• Cury, F., Elliot, A.J., Da Fonseca, D., & Moller, A. (2006). The social-cognitive model of achievement motivation and the 2 x 2 achievement goal framework. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 666-679.
• Elliot, A.J., Shell, M.M., Henry, K., & Maier, M. (2005). Achievement goals, performance contingencies, and performance attainment: An experimental test. Journal of Educational Psychology, 97, 630-640.
• Elliot, A.J., & Dweck, D.S. (2005). Competence as the Core of Achievement Motivation. Handbook of Competence and Motivation.   NY: Guilford Press.
• McGregor, H.A., & Elliot, A.J. (2005). The shame of failure:  Examining the link between fear of failure and shame. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 218-231.
• Elliot, A.J., & Thrash, T.M. (2004). The intergenerational transmission of fear of failure. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30, 957-971.

• Elliot, A.J., & Reis, H.T. (2003). Attachment and exploration in adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85,317-331.

 

Recent and Current Editorial Positions

 

• Associate Editor, Psychological Science (2012)
• Associate Editor, Emotion (2010)
• Editor (Emotion and Motivation Section) Social and Personality Compass (2007 - 2008)

• Associate Editor, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2005 - 2007)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Personality (2003 - 2006)

 

 

Recent and Current Graduate Students

 

• Rachel Korn (M.A. level)
• Adam Pazda (Ph.D. level)
• Roger Feltman (Ph.D. level)
• Wilbert Law (Ph.D. level)
• Rachael Mapes - The socialization of fear of failure in Japan and the U.S. (Ph.D. thesis)
• James Fryer - Stability and change in achievement goals across the middle school transition (Ph.D. thesis)
• Arlen Moller - The motivational dynamics of the need to belong (Ph.D. thesis)
• Ron Friedman - The sound of motivation (Ph.D. thesis)
• Todd Thrash - Inspiration as a motivational construct (Ph.D. thesis)
• Holly McGregor - Fear of failure and shame (Ph.D. thesis)
• Marcy Church - Perceptions of the college classroom and achievement goals (Ph.D. thesis)

 

Recent Visitors to the Lab

 

Mark Leveszy (Germany)	2011
Marieke Roskes (The Netherlands)	2011
Nurcan Kahraman (Turkey)	2010
Dr. Stephanie Lictenfeld (Germany)	2010-2011
Isabelle Paulick (Germany)	2009
Dr. Lin Yu (China)	2008-2009
Dr. Julia Schueler (Switzerland)	2007
Mattias Radant (Germany)	2007
Dr. Huijin Liu (China)	2007
Dr. Kou Murayama (Japan)	2006-2008
Angelika Meier (Switzerland)	2006
Dr. Ayumi Tanaka (Japan)	2005-2006
Dr. Daniela Niesta (Germany)	2005-2008

 

Recent Courses Taught

 

• CSP 464 - Achievement and motivation
• CSP 161 - Social Psychology and Individual Differences

 

Recent Grants

 

• Institute of Education Sciences

    "Transforming algebra assignments"

    ---2010 to 2013 ($213,424)

• Humboldt Foundation
  "Achievement goals and emotions."
  ---2007 to 2010 ($109,000)
• W.T. Grant Foundation
  "Fear of Failure and the Middle School Transition."
  ---2004 to 2007 ($180,000)
• W.T. Grant Faculty Scholars Program
  "Avoidance motivation in children"
  ---1998 to 2003 ($270,000)

 

Select Honors and Distinctions

 

• Thompson Reuter's ISI HighlyCited for Social Sciences (Psychology/Psychiatry). (2010)
• Fellow, Society of Experimental Social Psychology (2009)
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division 15 (2008)
• Churchill Fellow, Churchill College, University of Cambridge (2008)
• Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2007)
• Fellow, American Psychological Association (2007)
• Willem Bessel Research Award (2004)
• Fellow, Society for Personality and Social Psychology (2004)
• Richard Snow Award for Early Career Contributions to Educational Psychology (2002)
• International Society for Self and Identity Early Career Award (2002)
• APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology in the area of Personality Psychology (2001)