Sean McCrea, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming
Department of Psychology
Department 3415
Laramie , WY 82071
Fax: 307 -766-2926
Email: smccrea@uwyo.edu
Our lab conducts research on the interplay of motivational and cognitive processes in human behavior.
We examine the role of cognitive processes in self-regulation and achievement behavior. Examples include: construal; counterfactual thinking; planning; prospective memory; evaluative mindset.
Conversely, we are interested in the impact of motivational factors on decision making, learning, and performance. Examples include: academic preparation among stigmatized groups; defensive behavior in performance settings; intrinsic motivation and persistence; criticism and compassion.
University of Wyoming
Department of Psychology, Dept. 3415
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
E-mail: smccrea@uwyo.edu
Public shaming
Intergroup criticism
Third party punishment
Intergroup criticism
Gamification
Intrinsic interest
Academic achievement among members of vulnerable groups
Self-handicapping
Fall 2023 Lab excursion to Wyoming's pyramids
Alexandra Bitter, Ph.D., Point Loma Nazarene University
Angel Munoz Gomez Andrade, Ph.D., Flagler College
Joshua Reynolds, Ph.D., University of Scranton
Richard Vann, Ph.D., Gonzaga University
Trent Wondra, Ph.D., Nielsen Media Research
Self-handicapping in stigmatized groups
Mindset model of action phases
Responses to group criticism
Counterfactual thinking
Science advocacy
Bitter, A. N., Wondra, T., McCrea, S. M., Darzi, A., & Novak, V. D. (2022). Does it pay to play? Undermining effects of monetary reward and gamification in a web-based task. Technology, Mind, and Behavior.
Wondra, T. K., & McCrea, S. M. (2022). Collective self-doubt: does subjective SES predict behavioral self-handicapping tendency in college students?. Social Psychology of Education, 25(1), 129-167.
Thürmer, J. L., Stadler, J., & McCrea, S. M. (2022). Intergroup sensitivity and promoting sustainable consumption: Meat eaters reject vegans’ call for a plant-based diet. Sustainability, 14(3), 1741.
McCrea, S. M., Erion, C. J., & Thürmer, J. L. (2022). Why punish critical outgroup commenters? Social identity, general norms, and retribution. British Journal of Social Psychology, 61(3), 711-728.
Thürmer, J. L., & McCrea, S. M. (2022). On Efficient Mass-Media Messages During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Expertise and Expressed Social Identity. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 3(1: Spring 2022), 52.
Darzi, A., McCrea, S. M., & Novak, D. (2021). User Experience with Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment Methods for an Affective Exergame: Comparative Lab-Based Study. JMIR Serious Games, 9(2):e25771. https://doi.org/10.2196/25771
Thuermer, J. L., & McCrea, S. M. (2021). Disentangling the Intergroup Sensitivity Effect: Defending the Ingroup or Enforcing General Norms? European Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2748
Reynolds, J. J., Estrada-Reynolds, V., Freng, S. & McCrea, S. M. (2021). Cheese it, it’s the Fuzz: Testing the Belief that Guilt Predicts Police Avoidance. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 16, 84-106. http://www.apcj.org/journal/index.php?mode=view&item=162
Darzi, A., Wondra, T., McCrea, S. M., & Novak, D. (2019). Classification of Multiple Psychological Dimensions in Computer Game Players Using Physiology, Performance and Personality Characteristics. Frontiers in Neuroscience, Neural Technology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01278
Reynolds, J.J., Estrada-Reynolds, V.C., Freng, S., & McCrea, S.M. (2019). Investigator beliefs of homicide crime scene characteristics. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 15, 60-85. http://www.apcj.org/journal/index.php?mode=view&item=150
Thuermer, J. L., McCrea, S. M., & McIntyre, B. (2019). Motivated collective defensiveness: Group members prioritize counter-arguing over getting their work done. Social Psychological & Personality Science, 10, 382-392. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550618762298
Reynolds, J. J.*, & McCrea, S.M. (2019). Environmental constraints on the functionality of inhibitory self-control: Sometimes you have to eat the donut. Self and Identity, 18, 60-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2017.1354066
2022-present RAISE: IHBEM: Understanding and Predicting Behavioral Responses to Epidemic Risks and Control Policies: Implications for Epidemiological Models and Policy Design, Co-PI, NSF
2017-2020 A Kinder, Gentler Technology: Enhancing Human-Machine Symbiosis Using Adaptive, Personalized Affect-Aware Systems, PI Domen Novak (UW), NSF 1717705
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)
Dr. Peter M. Gollwitzer, New York University; University of Konstanz (Germany)
Dr. Edward R. Hirt, Indiana University
Dr. Lukas Thuermer, Paris Lodron University, Salzburg (Austria)
Dr. Frank Wieber, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
Sean McCrea, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming
Department of Psychology
Department 3415
Laramie , WY 82071
Fax: 307 -766-2926
Email: smccrea@uwyo.edu