Research Overview

Dr. Elliot will be accepting applications for graduate students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The primary focus of Dr. Elliot's research is 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, achievement, and social connection.

See the Approach-Avoidance Motivation Research Group website for more details.

Courses Offered (subject to change)

• PSYC 161:  Social Psychology and Individual Differences
• PSYC 365/465:  Achievement and Motivation in Developing Countries

Selected Publications

Recent Publications (Selected)

• Elliot, A. J. (2023). Energization and direction are both essential parts of motivation. In M. Bong, J.M. Reeve, S. I. Kim (Eds.), Motivation science: Controversies and insights(pp. 10-14). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
• Gordils, J., Elliot, A. J., & Jamieson, J. P. (2023). The effect of Black-White income inequality on perceived interracial psychological outcomes via perceived interracial competition. Journal of Educational Psychology: General, 132, 2479-2503.
• Guo, J., Hu, X., Elliot, A. J., Murayama, K, Marsh, H. W., Basarkod, G., Parker, P., & Dicke, T. (2023). Mastery-approach goals: A large-scale cross-cultural analysis of antecedents and consequences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 125, 397-420.
• Pekrun, R., Marsh, H. W., Elliot, A. J., Loderer, K., Perry, R. P., Vogt, E., & Goetz, T. (2023). A three-dimensional taxonomy of achievement emotions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 124, 145-178.
• Sommet, N., & Elliot, A. J. (2023). A competitiveness-based theoretical framework on the psychology of income inequality. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 32, 318-327.
• Sommet, N., Weissman, D. L., & Elliot, A. J. (2023). Income inequality predicts competitiveness and cooperativeness at school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115, 173-191.
• Weissman, D. L., & Elliot, A. J. (2023). Achievement goal perception: An interpersonal approach to achievement goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 125, 607-628.