Steve R. Wininger

Steve R. Wininger, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Western Kentucky University (WKU), affiliated with the Department of Psychology within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Georgetown College, an M.A. from WKU, and a Ph.D. in Educational and Sport Psychology from Florida State University. His research focuses on self-regulation across three domains: exercise, learning, and sports, emphasizing strategies to enhance long-term adherence and performance. Areas of study include attentional focus, goal-setting, and motivational interventions.

Education:

• B.A., Psychology and Philosophy, Georgetown College, 1993
• M.A., Applied Experimental Psychology, Western Kentucky University, 1995
• Ph.D., Educational Psychology (Sports Psychology), Florida State University, 1998

Research Interests: Wininger’s work explores how individuals self-regulate in exercise, academic, and athletic contexts. Key topics include the implementation phase of self-regulation (e.g., attentional focus strategies), variables influencing exercise adherence (e.g., group cohesion, autonomy), and teacher methods for fostering student self-regulation. His lab prioritizes applied research to bridge theory and real-world outcomes.

Teaching and Service: He teaches courses such as Psychology of Motivation (PSY 412), Advanced Educational Psychology (PSY 510), and Statistics in Psychology (PSY 617). He also provides sport psychology consulting for teams like basketball, swimming, and volleyball. His Motivation Lab focuses on developing practical interventions for self-regulation skills.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Motivation Lab and collaborates on the Teacher Motivation initiative, aiming to integrate self-regulation principles into educational practices.