Ben Wilkowski

Ben Wilkowski is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wyoming. His research focuses on the intersection of goals, emotions, and social behavior, particularly through the ASPIRE Lab, which explores self-regulation, goal-content structure, and the role of emotions in binding social relationships. He holds a Ph.D. (2008) and M.S. (2005) from North Dakota State University and a B.A. (2002) from Ohio University.

Research Interests: The ASPIRE Lab investigates how goals and emotions coordinate social behavior. Key projects include examining higher-order goal-content structure (PINT taxonomy), dynamics of self-regulation in daily life, role models for disadvantaged groups, and identity narratives in political party changes.

Publications span topics in political psychology, behavioral regulation, and lexical analysis of goals. His recent work uses experience-sampling protocols to study habit formation and self-control.

Teaching: He teaches courses on Social Psychology, Personality Science, Research Methods, and Advanced Theories of Social Psychology.

Labs & Teams: He directs the University of Wyoming Cognitive/Developmental, Legal, & Social Psychology graduate programs and co-edits the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.