Arlen C. Moller

Arlen C. Moller is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology since 2013. He leads the Motivation Science and Digital Health Lab, supervising students across multiple degree programs including Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) and Game Design.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Social Psychology (2007) - University of Rochester
  • B.A. in Psychology (2000) - Cornell University

His research focuses on digital health interventions that promote physical and mental wellness through motivation science and self-determination theory, particularly examining how digital technologies like wearable monitors, video games, and extended reality can be designed to support intrinsic motivation and behavioral change. This work spans multiple domains including occupational health, human-computer interaction, and game design.

Current research trends include:

• Developing digital tools that balance competition mechanics with psychological needs
• Understanding social identity influences on health behaviors
• Examining long-term effects of extrinsic rewards on motivation
• Implementing self-determination theory in healthcare settings
• Creating peer-to-peer mental health support systems
• Optimizing digital behavior change through autonomy support

Dr. Moller collaborates with institutions such as the Center for Self-Determination Theory, Society of Behavioral Medicine, and University of Lisbon's PANOS*SR Research Group. His lab team includes three Ph.D. candidates investigating specific applications of their research.