Department of Psychology

College of Arts & Sciences

Motivation and Cognition Laboratory

Principal Investigator: Dr. Sean McCrea

University of Wyoming
Department of Psychology, Dept. 3415
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-6149
E-mail: smccrea@uwyo.edu

 Accepting graduate students for 2016

The Motivation and Cognition Laboratory conducts research on the interplay of motivational and cognitive processes in human behavior. Examples include the role of cognitive processes in self-regulation and achievement behavior, and the impact of motivational factors on decision making and learning.

 

Lab Members:

Joshua Reynolds, M.S.

Richard Vann, MBA

 

Current and Recent Research Projects:

• Action phase mindsets
• Defensiveness in groups
• Self-control and regulation of health behaviors
• Self-handicapping in clinical populations
• Evolutionary approaches to exploitative and deceptive behaviors

 

Recent Publications:

Freng, S., Schweitzer, K., & McCrea, S. M. (in press). Reversal of fortune: When does increased distance from an initial negligent act make one more blameworthy? Psychiatry, Psychology and Law.

McCrea, S. M., Penningroth, S. L., & Radakovich, M. P. (2015). Implementation intentions forge a strong cue-response link and boost prospective memory performance. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 27, 12-26.

Reynolds, J. J., & McCrea, S. M. (2015). Exploitative and deceptive resource acquisition strategies: The role of life history strategy and life history contingencies. Evolutionary Psychology, 13, 1474704915593664

Myers, A. M., McCrea, S. M., & Tyser, M. P. (2014). The role of thought-content and mood in the preparative benefits of upward counterfactual thinking. Motivation and Emotion, 38, 166-182.

Tyser, J., Scott, W. D., Readdy, T. R., & McCrea, S. M. (2014). The role of goal representations, cultural identity, and dispositional optimism in the depressive experiences of American Indian youth from a Northern Plains tribe. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 43, 329-342.

Thuermer, J. L., McCrea, S. M., & Gollwitzer, P. G. (2013). Regulating self-defensiveness: If-then plans prevent claiming and creating performance handicaps. Motivation and Emotion, 37, 712-725.

Myers, A. M.*, McCrea, S. M., & Tyser, M. P.* (in press). The role of thought-content and mood in the preparative benefits of upward counterfactual thinking. Motivation and Emotion. [link to preprint]

Thuermer, J. L., McCrea, S. M., & Gollwitzer, P. G. (in press). Regulating self-defensiveness: If-then plans prevent claiming and creating performance handicaps. Motivation and Emotion. [link to preprint]

Tyser, M. P., McCrea, S. M., & Knuepfer, K. (2012). Pursuing perfection or pursuing protection? Self-evaluation concerns and the motivational consequences of counterfactual thinking. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 372-382. [preprint pdf]

McCrea, S. M., & Flamm, A. (2012). Dysfunctional anticipatory thoughts and the self-handicapping strategy. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 72-81. [preprint pdf]

McCrea, S. M., Wieber, F., & Myers, A. L. (2012). Construal level mind-sets moderate self- and social stereotyping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 51-68. [preprint pdf]

Nunez, N., McCrea, S. M., & Culhane, S. E. (2011). Jury decision making research: Are Researchers Focusing on the Mouse and Not the Elephant in the Room? Behavioral Sciences and Law, 29, 439-451. [preprint pdf]

McCrea, S. M., & Hirt, E. R. (2011). Limitations on the substitutability of self-protective processes: Self-handicapping is not reduced by related-domain self-affirmations. Social Psychology, 42, 9-18. [preprint pdf]

 

Grant Activity:

2015  Treatment noncompliance as a form of self-handicapping behavior, University of Wyoming (PI)

2014  Overcoming collective defensiveness with implementation intentions, University of Konstanz (collaboration with PI Dr. Lukas Thuermer, University of Konstanz)

 

Research Collaborators:

Dr. Matthew T. Crawford, Victoria University Wellington (New Zealand)

Dr. Peter M. Gollwitzer, New York University; University of Konstanz (Germany)

Dr. Edward R. Hirt, Indiana University

Dr. Nira Liberman, Tel Aviv University (Israel)

Dr. Lukas Thuermer, University of Konstanz

Dr. Frank Wieber, University of Konstanz (Germany)