Research Interests
“What unites Fishbach’s research is a kind of hopefulness. Her work shows how we can live up to our highest aspirations. She’s written about exercising, healthy eating, and saving money — the hard-but-worth-it challenges that occupy many of our lives. None of her findings offer magic bullets, but they do suggest that self-improvement is achievable. Hers is a happy science.”
— The University of Chicago Magazine
Self-control
A self-control dilemma is the ultimate goal conflict. It involves choosing between what you believe you ought to do and what is tempting to do at the moment. My research explores the strategies people use to first detect temptation in their environment and then battle this temptation.
Learn more:
Want to Motivate People? Stress Goals, Not Means
Chicago Booth Review (June 22, 2018)
Slacking in the Middle
Chicago Booth Review (January 9, 2014)
Identifying and Battling Temptation
Fishbach, A., & Converse, B. A. (2010). In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory and Applications (2nd edition; pp. 244-260). New York: Guilford.
Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation—or pursuing an activity as an end in itself—is key for persistence at just about everything. My research explores the antecedents and consequences of intrinsic motivation, including techniques that increase and maintain intrinsic motivation at work, study, and exercise.
Learn more:
The Structure of Intrinsic Motivation
Fishbach, A., & Woolley, K. (2022). Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior.
To Land a Job, Say How Much You Love the Work
Chicago Booth Review (September 28, 2018)
To Lose Weight, Have Fun
Chicago Booth Review (February 26, 2016)
Social connection
As humans, we draw closer to people who support our motivation. We further work with people on shared goals, such as starting a family or running a business. My research explores how goals shape social connections and how people coordinate goal pursuit.
Learn more:
Why We Go Where No One’s Gone Before
Chicago Booth Review (March 2, 2021)
Sharing Experiences, Even From Afar, Can Bring People Closer
Chicago Booth Review (December 8, 2020)
Why Sharing a Plate Leads to Better Negotiation Outcomes
Chicago Booth Review (December 7, 2018)
Feedback
My research explores how to give, seek and receive feedback. I ask when it’s best to provide feedback on completed versus missing actions and explore strategies to increase learning from negative feedback.
Learn more:
You Think Failure is Hard? So Is Learning From It
Eskreis-Winkler, L., & Fishbach, A. (in press). Perspectives on Psychological Science.
Either Analyze Your Mistakes or Repeat Them
Chicago Booth Review (April 21, 2020)
Giving Advice Is More Motivating Than Receiving It
Chicago Booth Review (September 4, 2018)
Patience
While good things come to those who wait, waiting is not fun. My research explores the emotional and cognitive barriers to waiting and how to help people forgo the smaller-sooner outcomes in life in favor of the larger-later ones.
Learn more:
Why Patients May Lack Patience
Chicago Booth Review (January 6, 2021)
When People Are Willing to Wait
Chicago Booth Review (December 28, 2020)
Why Good Things Come to Those Who ... Wait
Chicago Booth Review (November 22, 2013)
Healthy lifestyle
My research explores interventions that promote healthy eating and exercising, in order to promote healthy lifestyle and, ultimately, happiness.
Learn more:
Food Restrictions May Stoke Loneliness
Chicago Booth Review (January 13, 2020)
Goal Digger
The University of Chicago Magazine (Winter 2019)
How to Get Children to Eat Healthy Food
Chicago Booth Review (September 2, 2014)
