Patricia Chen

Dr. Patricia Chen studies the mindsets and behaviors that motivate learning, performance and well-being. Passionate about using psychological science to improve lives and societies, she develops psychologically precise, scalable interventions that empower people to adopt these adaptive mindsets and behaviors in their learning, work, and lives. For example, she has discovered important mindsets, such as a strategic mindset (Chen et al., 2020, PNAS) and mindsets about passion (Chen et al., 2015, PSPB), and designed ways to promote these mindsets - often in an online, scalable manner (e.g., the Strategic Resource Use intervention, Chen et al., 2017, Psych Science).

She will join the Department of Educational Psychology in Spring 2023.

Ph.D. in Social Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2015

M.A. in Social Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2012

B.S. in Psychology & Organizational Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2010

Studies the mindsets and behaviors that motivate learning, achievement and well-being; develops psychologically precise, scalable interventions to empower people, improving lives and societies.

Ruggeri, K., Panin, A., ..., ...., Chen, P., ..., .... & Garcia-Garzon, E. (2022). The globalizability of temporal discounting. Nature Human Behavior. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01392-w.

Weisz, E., Chen, P., Ong, D., Carlson, R., Clark, M. & Zaki, J. (2022). A Brief Intervention to Motivate Empathy Among Middle School Students. JEP: General, 151(12), 31443153. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001249.

Chen, P., Teo, D., Foo, D., Derry, H., Hayward, B., Schulz, K., Hayward, C., McKay, T. & Ong, D. (2022). Real-World Effectiveness of a Social- Psychological Intervention Translated from Controlled Trials to Classrooms. Nature Publishing Group Science of Learning, 7(22). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41539-022-00135-w. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-022-00135-w.

Chen, P., Ong, D., Ng, J. & Coppola, B. (2021). Explore, Exploit, and Prune in the Classroom: Strategic Resource Management Behaviors Predict Performance. AERA Open, 7. doi:10.1177/2332858420986180.

O'Keefe, P., Lee, H. & Chen, P. (2021). Changing Students' Beliefs About Learning Can Unveil Their Potential. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 8(1), 84–91. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732220984173.

O'Keefe, P., Horberg, E., Chen, P. & Savani, K. (2021). A cross-cultural examination of the value placed on pursuing ones passion. Journal of Organizational Behavior. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2552.

Chen, P., Lin, Y., Pereira, D., O'Keefe, P. & Yates, J. (2021). Fanning the flames of passion: A develop mindset predicts strategy-use intentions to cultivate passion. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(634903), 1–13.

Chen, P., Garcia, S., Chai, V. & Gonzalez, R. (2021). Comparing and Being Compared: A Dual Process Framework of Competition. Advances in Group Processes: Emerald Publishing.

Chen, P., Powers, J., Katragadda, K., Cohen, G. & Dweck, C. (2020). A strategic mindset: An orientation toward strategic behaviour during goal pursuit. PNAS, 117, 14066–14072.

Chen, P. (2020). The Strategic Resource Use Intervention. Handbook on Wise Interventions: How Social-Psychological Insights Can Help Solve Problems: Guilford Press.

Chwyl, C., Chen, P. & Zaki, J. (2020). Beliefs about Self-Compassion: Implications for Coping and Self-Improvement. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 47(9), 1327–1342.

Chen, P., Lee, F. & Lim, S. (2020). Loving Thy Work: Developing a Holistic Measure of Work Passion. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 29, 140–158.

Chen, P. & Ellsworth, P. (2019). Lay Theories of How Passion for Work is Achieved. Passion for Work: Determinants and Consequences (pp. 139–168): Oxford University Press.

Garcia, S., Weaver, K. & Chen, P. (2019). The Status Signals Paradox. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 10, 690–696.

Chen, P., Chavez, O., Ong, D. & Gunderson, B. (2017). Strategic Resource Use for Learning: A Self-Administered Intervention That Guides Self-Reflection on Effective Resource Use Enhances Academic Performance. Psychological Science, 28(6), 774–785. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617696456.

Chen, P., Ellsworth, P. & Schwarz, N. (2015). Finding A Fit or Developing It: Lay Theories about Passion for Work. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(10), 1411–1424.

Huberth, M., Chen, P., Tritz, J. & McKay, T. (2015). E2Coach: Computer-tailored Student Support in Introductory Physics. PLOS One, 10(9), e0137001.

Garcia, S., Chen, P. & Gordon, M. (2014). The Letter Versus The Spirit of The Law: A Lay Perspective on Culpability. Judgment and Decision Making, 9(5), 479–490.

Chen, P., Myers, C., Kopelman, S. & Garcia, S. (2012). The Hierarchical Face: Higher rankings lead to less cooperative looks. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(2), 479–486.

National Research Foundation Fellowship, National Research Foundation, Singapore Prime Minister's Office (2019 - 2022)

Society for the Science of Motivation Young Scientist Poster Award, Society for the Science of Motivation (2013)

Philip Brickman Memorial Prize for Best Graduate Research in Social Psychology, University of Michigan (2012)

Motivation and Self-Regulation Lab