Emily Balcetis

Emily Balcetis is an Associate Professor of Psychology at New York University (NYU), affiliated with the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on how psychological states—such as motivations, emotions, and goals—shape visual and social perception, influencing behavior and navigation of the social world. She advocates for an interactive cognitive system where perception and action are dynamically linked. Her work intersects social psychology, judgment and decision-making, and perception.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Psychology, Cornell University (2006)
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2001)
• B.F.A. in Music Performance, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2001)

Research Interests: Balcetis explores motivational biases in perception, including how desires and goals alter visual interpretations (e.g., perceived distance, object feasibility). Her studies address topics like legal decision-making, cybersecurity risks, and the role of perceptual biases in social judgment. She emphasizes practical applications, such as enhancing self-regulation through perceptual strategies.

Lab & Affiliations: Her lab investigates embodied cognition and motivated perception. She collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving cyber-risk mitigation, urban design for physical activity, and legal psychology. Her work is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (e.g., EAGER: SAI on Cyber Risks).